Cold Ambition: The New Geopolitical Faultline
In the same way that the US cannot let China have de facto control over the South China Sea, the US cannot permit the NSR to become a waterway over which Russia exercises unilateral jurisdiction.
The Global Saudi Soft Power Offensive: A Saudi Princess and Dollar Diplomacy
Saudi Arabia appointed their first female ambassador in late February. Princess Reema bint Bandar al Saud has been appointed as ambassador to the United States, while the Crown Prince has undergone a series of meetings with leaders throughout Asia. These actions, as a whole, demonstrate an attempted global soft power campaign which the West must now respond to.
Upcoming Elections and Ukrainian “Ultra-nationalism”
Although the first round of the Ukrainian Presidential elections occur Sunday March 31, many people outside of Eastern Europe are unaware of the issues surrounding the elections or who is running. This elections appears to be a referendum on the ‘ultra-nationalist’ policies and ideology Kiev has condoned—most often at the expense of ethnic Russians. The ultimate question, however, may not be the results of the election but whether the international community will be able to understand what is transpiring within Ukraine.
African Powder Keg: Cameroonian Conflict and African Security
President Biya continues to preside over Cameroon, a key ally in the West’s fight with ISIS. However, recent elections have left Cameroon in a state of unrest and possible civil war as Biya uses American-trained soldiers to violently suppress the English-speaking minority.
Stagnant Congress, Active President: Korean Talks Continue
While Congress argues over the border wall, President Trump and Kim Jong-Un are beginning to forge a stronger bond in order to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. Despite the gridlock at home Trump proclaims that “This is more than has ever been accomplished with North Korea!”… Is this a new round of false promises or has the President made real headway with the Korean Regime?
Iraqis Set Iranian Consulate Ablaze
On September 7, the citizens of Basra, Iraq, poured into the streets chanting “Iran, out!” while targeting the Iranian consulate with several rockets. These protests have, in fact, been stirring for several months, with this most recent eruption of violence in Basra serving as a microcosm of the issues Iraq, if not the rest of the Middle East, faces as the result of Iranian militarism.
President Poroshenko Seeks European “Patronage” in Donbass Region
Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko announced… a new plan to seek European leadership in war-stricken areas of the nation still in government hands… “establishing a kind of patronage by certain countries over certain cities and towns of Donbass, let Germany take responsibility for Kramatorsk, let Greece for Mariupol, let Great Britain for Volnovaha, let other countries take Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Avdeevka”
Kiev’s New Partner: A Betrayal of U.S. Interests
A former counsel to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, William C. Triplet, even went so far as to say that “the Ukrainians are getting away with taking the U.S. taxpayers’ money in the one hand while stabbing the U.S. Navy in the back with the other.”…the threat to American security stemming from Ukraine must be responded to; the U.S. ought to pressure an ally who may be betraying its interests.
[Opinion] Why the U.S. Should Support Israel’s Claim to the Golan Heights
Given the inherent tension between support for Israel and aversion to military action in the Middle East, the United States must find ways to support Israel without engaging in military conflict. One soft power approach to consider would be supporting Israel’s claim to the Golan Heights.
China Dethroned: Market Capitalization Tumbles as Trade War Continues
The trade war between the world’s two largest economies is entering its second round, and China is taking a beating. Bloomberg writes that China has recently ceded its position as the world’s second largest economy in terms of market capitalization to Japan, whose equities it eclipsed previously in 2014. Chinese equities dropped in value to $6.09 trillion USD slipping well below the Japanese equity market, which is currently valued at $6.17 trillion USD.