Blog Layout

The Downside of Imperial Collapse   

When Empires or Great Powers Fall, Chaos and War Rise Wars are historical hinges. And misbegotten wars, when serving as culmination points of more general national decline, can be fatal. This is particularly true for empires. The Habsburg empire, which ruled over central Europe for hundreds of years, might have …

Read More »

France – Maghreb : Macron, Mohammed VI, Tebboune et Saïed… l’équation impossible

Consciente du recul de son influence, la France a réactivé sa politique maghrébine, notamment via la visite d’Emmanuel Macron à Alger fin août. Mais, dans un contexte de grandes tensions régionales, Paris navigue en eaux troubles. FRANCE – MAGHREB : L’ÉQUATION IMPOSSIBLE (1/4) – « Malentendu : divergence d’interprétation entre …

Read More »

Burkina Faso : qui est Ibrahim Traoré, le capitaine qui a fait tomber Damiba ?

Nouvel homme fort du Burkina Faso, le capitaine de 34 ans avait participé au coup d’État du lieutenant-colonel Damiba, en janvier. Surfant sur le mécontentement des officiers de sa génération à l’égard de leur aîné, le voilà désormais à la tête de la transition burkinabè. Lorsqu’il a été désigné comme …

Read More »

Iran vows to strike back if US destroys more of its drones over Iraq

Iran has vowed to respond to any “hostile actions” after an Iranian drone was reportedly shot down en route to Erbil. The chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, Mohammed Bagheri, vowed Friday to respond to any “hostile actions” targeting Iranian drones, Iranian news outlets reported. The threats followed Wednesday’s …

Read More »

Khamenei breaks silence on Iran protests, lays blame on US

In his first speech since the outbreak of protests Sept. 16, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States and Israel of promoting unrest in the country. For the first time since protests swept the country nearly two weeks ago, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has addressed …

Read More »

Shock and Awe: Who Attacked the Nord Stream Pipelines?

If the perpetrator was Russia, the signaling value toward the West—which would certainly know Russia is behind the explosions—may be a threat to the rest of the marine energy infrastructure. Western governments have not made a formal finding of responsibility for this week’s sabotage attacks on two Russian underwater pipelines …

Read More »

The Oil Market Has a Big Russia Sanctions Problem

The US administration is running out of time to prevent European sanctions on Russian crude from causing a spike in oil prices. For months now, the Treasury has been fighting hard — in the face of much skepticism and ridicule — to soften European sanctions that bar providing insurance and …

Read More »

What Xi must tell Putin now

The terrible concoction of conscription, annexation and nuclear weapons that Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered last week presents a crucial test to every major world leader. Global outrage is needed, but the spotlight now shines brightest on Chinese President Xi Jinping. He needs to step forward in pressing Putin to …

Read More »