China’s mediation of the Saudi-Iran normalization agreement signals a potential break from its long-standing policy of keeping to a minimal and economically oriented regional footprint. By successfully bringing two of the Middle East’s bitterest rivals to the negotiation table, China aims to build credibility as a capable partner in a …

Few policymakers ever claim credit for causing stagnation and recessions. Yet, they do so all the time, justifying their actions by some supposedly higher purpose. Now, that higher purpose is checking inflation as if it is the worst option for people today. Many supposed economists make up tall tales that …

There has been a recent accelerating trend towards “de-dollarization” in emerging markets. According to media reports, on April 1, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that India and Malaysia had agreed to settle trade in Indian rupees. Earlier, India and Russia were also pushing for a local currency settlement …

The president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev issued the presidential order for the adoption of a five priorities list (1) for the Socio-Economic development of the country in 2021. These priorities under the tagline Azerbaijan Vision 2030 are primarily concerned with the transformation of the oil-centric economy to a multi-centric economy, …

Russians are showing a growing interest in obtaining Kyrgyz passports as a way out of their country — which has been isolated in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine early last year. Private Russian firms promote the Kyrgyz passport as a door opener to subsequently being able to travel, …

Russia is stepping up its efforts to normalize ties between Syria and Turkiye in a bid to bolster its alliance with Damascus, which has proved exceptionally beneficial to both sides since President Vladimir Putin ordered a military incursion in 2015 that saved the regime of President Bashar Assad. Recent attempts …

On 25 March, in a televised interview, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is preparing to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to its neighbouring and allied country Belarus. As the announcement has potential global implications for non-proliferation and strategic stability, as well as for the course of the Ukraine crisis and, …

US Central Command forces conducted a unilateral strike in Syria on Tuesday killing Khalid ‘Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri, an Islamic State senior leader. According to CENTCOM, Khalid ‘Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri was responsible for planning ISIS attacks in Türkiye and Europe and developed the leadership structure for ISIS in Turkey. CENTCOM is …

Last week, Fox News aired a segment discussing the possibility that the US dollar will cease to be the global reserve currency and what that would mean for Americans. The tone of the piece suggested that a “catastrophic” decline of the US dollar was not only possible, but perhaps even …

Introduction The issue of sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine roiled German and European politics for months. The West had collectively committed to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Ukraine said it needed Western tanks – and the German-made Leopards were the tank that best fit the bill. The …