Abstract: Like all terror groups, Central Asian terrorist groups are continuously attempting to diversify how they finance their activities to avoid detection. Drawing on various reports, court documents, an array of research literature, and online extremist materials, this article explores some innovative methods that Central Asian terrorists have recently experimented …
Read More »A Reassessment of American Policy Toward Taliban Afghanistan
Key Points More than a year and a half on from its seizure of power, it is clear the Taliban regime rejects the idea of a pluralist political order and seems determined to impose the same restrictive social policies as were implemented in 1996-2001.As actions intended to isolate and punish …
Read More »Why China’s yuan is unlikely to see boost from Saudi entry to BRICS
Oil transactions between China and the Gulf may be settled in Chinese currency, but experts do not foresee an end to the dollar’s dominance soon. As Saudi Arabia eyes entry into the BRICS group of nations, there are fears that the kingdom’s vast oil reserves alongside China’s economic power could …
Read More »Can China broker peace in Ukraine? Don’t rule it out
Xi Jinping’s phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy was a long time coming, but it should not have come as a surprise. Beijing is on everyone’s shortlist when it comes to prospective peacemakers in Ukraine. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is no exception. “I know I can count on you to …
Read More »A New Opening for EU–Central Asia Relations?
Summary: The EU has been stepping up its engagement with Central Asia, including on regional cooperation, energy, and connectivity. But to gain more clout, the union must present a positive alternative to powers like China and Russia. The EU’s stakes in Central Asia—a region the union has traditionally kept at …
Read More »Judy Asks: Can Europe Forge a Common China Policy?
EU member states’ policies toward China have been hardening, but different national interests prevent a joint, coherent approach to Beijing. It may take a conflict over Taiwan to unify Europe. Krzysztof BłędowskiVisiting adjunct professor at the Rzeszów University of Information Technology and Management Europe is not united on China because …
Read More »Why The Chinese Yuan Won’t Kill The Dollar – Analysis
Former US President Donald Trump has expressed concern that China could displace the US dollar as the global reserve currency. The warning follows reports of agreements between various nations to use the yuan in commodity transactions. For years, rumors have circulated about the demise of the US dollar as a …
Read More »What’s at stake for China in Sudan as fighting drags on?
China’s economic interests, deep-rooted diplomatic relations with Khartoum, leaves Beijing worried about instability in Sudan and the Horn of Africa. China has thus far not taken sides in the fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, which has entered its second week. Beijing’s cautious …
Read More »EU Mulls Diplomatic Reach-Out To Sway Four Key Partners Away From Russia, China
Brazil, Chile, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan are four key “priority countries” the EU aims to keep close in its efforts to deal with Russia and contain China, according to an internal memo seen by EURACTIV. “We find ourselves in a competitive geopolitical environment: not only a battle of narratives but also …
Read More »BRICS To Pass G7 In Economic Power, Says Bloomberg
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – is expected to increase their share of the global economy to nearly 35% by 2028, Bloomberg reported on Monday. According to Bloomberg’s calculations based on the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, this year, the BRICS countries will contribute 32.1% of the …
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