China and Russia’s signing of the Power of Siberia 2 memorandum signals deepening ties but avoids firm commitments. If built, it would favor China, reshaping global gas markets and geopolitics. Another Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in China, another Power of Siberia pipeline agreement. In May 2014, the SCO Summit in Shanghai provided the backdrop for Russian President Vladimir Putin […]

Pakistan, which possesses nuclear weapons, is nevertheless almost totally dependent on the People’s Republic of China for military weapons systems, infrastructure improvement and energy projects. Pakistan is also in debt to China, its largest creditor, to the tune of $29 billion. Without continued Chinese financial assistance, Pakistan would fail to meet scheduled repayments of its international debt, which now amounts […]

Depuis la réélection de Donald Trump à la présidence des États-Unis, le monde observe avec stupéfaction une politique étrangère américaine de plus en plus interventionniste et agressive, suscitant de vives inquiétudes quant à l’avenir de la politique internationale. Ces inquiétudes résultent non seulement du bilan de son précédent mandat, mais aussi de la résurgence croissante des politiques belliqueuses et unilatérales, […]

A planned visit to India by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has been called off after failure to secure a travel waiver under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, Indian media reported on Saturday. The trip, which was scheduled for this month, was postponed after the required exemption for Muttaqi’s travel could not be obtained. If it had gone […]

Baradar said: “From here, I call on the international community, countries, and international financial institutions to end financial and banking restrictions against Afghanistan. These restrictions are not only harmful to us, but also to the region and the world.” Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has called on the international community to lift financial and banking […]

Taliban education authorities in Panjshir province are appointing individuals to key school leadership roles in exchange for bribes, according to sources familiar with the matter. Several sources within the Taliban’s provincial Department of Education told Amu TV that Taliban officials are demanding 50,000 afghanis (about $570) and hosting a banquet in return for the post of school principal. Some of […]

What Aspiring Nuclear Powers Learned From Israel’s Strikes on Iran In the months since Israel and the United States’ 12-day war with Iran in June, analysts and intelligence agencies have widely debated the extent of the damage to the Iranian nuclear program and regime. It is still unclear how much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has survived and how quickly, if […]

Tiananmen Square shuddered as advanced Chinese military hardware rolled past the leaders of the Axis of Aggressors — Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un. Wednesday’s parade, attended by about two dozen foreign leaders, was intended to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II — despite […]

With the leaders of Russia, Iran, and North Korea watching, Beijing conducted a massive parade on Wednesday, demonstrating the results of a years-long effort by the Chinese Communist Party to build a military it hopes can defeat the United States in the Pacific. Beijing’s growing prowess has eroded American security and increased the likelihood of war in the Taiwan Strait, […]

Last week Zelensky made the curious decision to open up the borders to Ukraine’s 18-22 year old males. The decision was met with both approval and disgust in different quarters of the country: The bigger question is why did Zelensky “liberate” such a vital age group at a time when manpower is at critical lows on the front? Astute observers […]