Following a strong exit from the pandemic, Europe was hit hard by the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Growth slowed drastically, inflation shot up, and episodes of financial stress materialized. But as a result of decisive policy action, most economies narrowly avoided a recession this winter. Europe now …
Read More »Why Russia Won’t Disintegrate Along Its Regional Borders
Despite growing talk abroad of Russia’s coming decolonization and the potential role of the war in Ukraine in bringing it about, several factors preclude the country’s disintegration along its regional borders. Since its invasion of Ukraine, maps depicting the collapse of Russia by 2025 have proliferated online. These fantastical graphics …
Read More »Surviving the War: Russia-Western Balkan Ties After the Invasion of Ukraine
Without the assistance of local actors, Russian influence in the Western Balkans would disappear overnight. But the opposite is also true. As long as local politicians can capitalize on invoking Moscow’s long shadow, Russia will remain a salient part of the Balkan landscape. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 …
Read More »Armenia Is Ready to Relinquish Nagorno-Karabakh: What Next?
Relations with Russia will have to be overhauled, since the main subject of discussion—Karabakh—will disappear. For most Armenians, the Kremlin will be seen as an unreliable ally that abandoned them in their hour of need. A turning point has been reached in the long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Last …
Read More »Multilateralism At Dead End? Forthcoming Geopolitical Chessboard And Necessity For Revival Of Diplomacy – Analysis
Foreseeable crises It was around ten years back, when more and more experts started sharing and discussing the argument that we are heading towards a global crisis of international cooperation, of dialogue, of collective action and responsibility, of confidence and trust; a global crisis of multilateralism. Sadly enough, this analysis …
Read More »Iran-Saudi Arabia Detente Today, Russia-Ukraine Truce Tomorrow? – Analysis
China’s role in mediating peace between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia may resonate in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In a recent visit to Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged China to play a role in winding down the conflict in Ukraine. In late March, the European Union’s top diplomat …
Read More »Europe And The Lost Opportunity To Become A Great Power – OpEd
Contrary to what was imagined, the opportunity of the Ukraine war failed to make Europe a world power, a strategic culture, and at best, made Europe a somewhat more cohesive and powerful auxiliary force for the United States. Therefore, there is no such thing as a European policy towards the …
Read More »US And NATO Allies Accounted For Over Half Of Global Military Expenditure In 2022
The world’s total military expenditure surpassed $2.24 trillion in 2022, with Europe recording its steepest rise in the last three decades, according to the annual military expenditure report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report was published on April 24. The annual report notes that global military …
Read More »The Post-Dollar World Is Coming – OpEd
Over the past few months, a series of important events have happened that herald the collapse of the global economic order and the demise of US dollar. First, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said the kingdom had no objection to selling its oil in a currency other than the US dollar. …
Read More »Ukrainian Counteroffensive Assessment – Analysis
Why Must Ukraine Conduct a Counteroffensive? Ukraine needs to conduct a successful counteroffensive for two reasons. First, Ukraine cannot function as a sovereign state with its territory carved up as it currently is. At present, around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory is under Russian occupation. Before Ukraine’s successful push into …
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