Saudi Arabia presents itself as the Middle East’s proactive peacemaker. But on Dec. 30, 2025, the kingdom launched a major airstrike on supply lines linked to what was once one of its closest Gulf partners, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Yemeni conflict reveals a deeper rift. The two Gulf nations no longer share a […]
Tag: Geopolitics
Why Countries Are Taking Back Control of Critical Minerals
The dichotomy between the peaceful salt flats glistening in the Andes and the data centers humming with servers that train artificial intelligence models is a cause for concern. As engineers meticulously care for the racks of advanced chips, the natural beauty of contemporary landscapes will soon be scraped away. Chip dependency on minerals draws from […]
On the Precipice: Southeast Asia Faces Trump 2.0’s Geopolitical Shake-Up
As Americans grapple with the aftermath of the November 2024 presidential elections, Southeast Asia stands at the critical nexus of its fallout, confronting a new and uncertain geopolitical reality. As Donald Trump returns to the White House, it marks a pivotal moment for the region. Trump’s “America First” policies, characterized by heightened protectionism, volatile diplomacy, […]
ASEAN Navigates Techno-Geopolitics of AI in U.S.-China Showdown
As artificial intelligence (AI) cements itself as a cornerstone of global power, Southeast Asia finds itself at the center of a complex and high-stakes rivalry between the United States and China. Established in 1967 amid Cold War tensions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was designed to foster regional stability and cooperation, helping its […]
Fraud at the Polls: The Last Stand for Democracy
In the early hours of July 28, Venezuelans lined up outside polling stations across the country, hoping to cast their votes for a new president, a new beginning. They waited in the sweltering heat, talking in hopeful whispers about change. But by nightfall, their hope was shattered. Nicolás Maduro, long accused of authoritarian tactics, declared […]
Eren Yeager and America’s Preemptive Foreign Policy Strategy
“If we kill all our enemies on the other side of the sea, will we finally be free?” – Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan, Season 3, Episode 22: “The Other Side Of The Wall”) The disconcerting parallel between Attack on Titan’s (AOT) Eren Yeager and United States (US) foreign policymakers lies in their shared use […]
2024 Elections: Redefining Global Politics
“I voted … I’m so happy … I’ve voted for the ANC, is that OK?” One woman, who had just cast her first vote in South Africa’s first democratic elections, asked Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, now the Chief Executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, this question. This fundamental premise for the people to freely […]
Southeast Asia is Rebalancing the Scales
At the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, much of anti-communist Southeast Asia aligned itself with the United States, entrenching U.S. hegemony around North Vietnam and its close allies in communist China. These countries regarded ties with the U.S. as a way to maintain and develop their economic and political strength in a […]
Panda-Monium: The Love Story of Pandas and Washington
In 1972, two ambassadors left China for the U.S. They did not speak a word of English or Mandarin. In fact, they could hardly walk on two feet. These were not people, but pandas, China’s national animal. Since arriving in America, they have become an enduring symbol of the goodwill and cooperation between China and […]
Rise in Terrorist Attacks Sparks Tensions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border
A recent bombing of a Peshawar mosque by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has prompted fears that Pakistan’s terrorism problem is growing. The attack killed over 100 people, many of them police officers. The TTP initially claimed responsibility, although TTP leadership later denied involvement and blamed a breakaway faction. January […]