Geopolitics
— Russia’s frustration with China’s limited support for its Ukraine war led to a North Korean peace treaty aimed at pressuring Beijing. Meanwhile, Western criticism of China’s role intensifies, urging it to reconsider its alignment.
Geopolitics
— Russia’s frustration with China’s limited support for its Ukraine war led to a North Korean peace treaty aimed at pressuring Beijing. Meanwhile, Western criticism of China’s role intensifies, urging it to reconsider its alignment.
European Union
— NATO members are urgently rethinking their nuclear strategy as Donald Trump’s potential presidency might weaken U.S. commitments, prompting Europe to consider independent defence capabilities amid rising Russian threats.
European Union
— Tension in the Western Balkans, which has been troubled by ethnic tensions since the wars of the 1990s, is becoming an increasing concern for the EU and NATO.
War in Ukraine
— French President Macron doesn’t exclude the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine following a meeting with European leaders. However, the question remains: could the deployment of ground troops to Ukraine provoke a broader and more dangerous conflict with Russia?
UK Politics
— Keir Starmer, if he becomes prime minister, faces global populism amid elections favouring anti-establishment figures around the world. Navigating instability, he must defend NATO and counter divisive forces in a changing political climate.
COMMENT
— The Houthis hold freedom of navigation hostage to press for a ceasefire in Gaza. The West responds with bombs on Houthi facilities in Yemen. How is this conducive to peace in our time?
COMMENT
— Global tensions are escalating, marked by ongoing regional disputes in Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. The international community’s intermittent focus on these crises raises concerns about the efficacy of global peacemaking efforts.
China-Russia Relationship
— Vladimir Putin’s first trip outside Russia in 20 months is to attend Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) anniversary summit. Both leaders aim to challenge the Western-dominated order but their partnership leans towards China.
War in Ukraine
— As the war nears 600 days, there are signs that support for Ukraine could be beginning to waver in some parts.
COMMENT
— Eight years on from the grand bargain, Libya’s situation is even more woeful.
China
— China’s new restrictions on gallium and germanium exports, in response to Western curbs on semiconductor equipment exports, could disrupt Western tech manufacturing. These elements, key in semiconductors and devices like smartphones, are predominantly supplied by China.
War in Ukraine
— The recent visits of Volodymyr Zelensky to his European allies to seek military and diplomatic support for the war against Russia was a success as Germany, France, and Britain have agreed to provide Ukraine with more weapons and equipment for its counter-offensive.
Geopolitics
— Emerging powers like Brazil, India, and South Africa are unhappy with the current global power structure and seek more recognition and influence. The West should offer more incentives to these countries to support its stance on Ukraine.
Stats
— Russia’s support base is slowly growing while countries condemning it have decreased, particularly from emerging economies.
COMMENT
— 20 years after the iconic toppling of Saddam Hussein’s bronze statue in Iraq, some people now lament the lack of rule of law in the country. Though the toppling was a defining moment in Iraq’s freedom, the state of corruption suggests a different reality.
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