2024 US Presidential Election

Donald Trump is already flustering foreign leaders who are trying to prepare for a possible presidency

— Donald Trump’s influence on the 2024 US presidential race is unprecedented, shaping both domestic and foreign agendas, prompting policy changes, and causing global uncertainty, even without an official candidacy.

COMMENT

NATO’s biggest exercise since Cold War could poke Russian bear

— The start of 2024 witnesses escalating global threats: the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Iran-Pakistan exchanges, China’s tensions with Taiwan, North Korea’s strategic shift, and a concerning prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons to deter NATO.

Geopolitics

Red Sea crisis: Suez Canal is not the only ‘choke point’ that threatens to disrupt global supply chains

— The US and UK military airstrikes in Yemen target Houthi threats to merchant vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This highlights the vulnerability of global trade chokepoints, posing risks to supply chains and the world economy.

COMMENT

‘Deploy diplomats to deal with Houthis, war is no recipe for peace’

— The Houthis hold freedom of navigation hostage to press for a ceasefire in Gaza. The West responds with bombs on Houthi facilities in Yemen. How is this conducive to peace in our time?

US Foreign Policy

Why Russia and China have been added to Republicans’ new ‘axis of evil’

— The term ‘axis of evil’ is being revived by some Republicans to describe China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. However, the new grouping differs in principles and has more tenuous links to US policy. It also appears driven by Republicans in Congress rather than the White House.

Geopolitics

What Joe Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping means for geopolitical tensions

— In a high-stakes meeting at the APEC summit, US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed to ease tensions in a complex relationship shaped by economic interdependence. Resolving grievances requires ongoing dialogue and cooperation.

COMMENT

Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar… whatever happened to the ‘never again’ pledge?

— Global tensions are escalating, marked by ongoing regional disputes in Ukraine-Russia, Israel-Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and Ethiopia. The international community’s intermittent focus on these crises raises concerns about the efficacy of global peacemaking efforts.

OPINION

The alarming rise of the new fascism

— Global concerns escalate as U.S. Project 2025 promotes far-right Christian nationalism. In Britain, Suella Braverman’s inflammatory language towards migrants, the homeless, and protesters raises fears of the Conservative Party transforming into a far-right authoritarian entity.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Hamas and Hezbollah: How they are different and why they might cooperate against Israel

— Hezbollah’s full involvement in the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict would likely open up a regional war.

China-Russia Relationship

Xi-Putin meeting: Here’s what it says about their current, and future, relationship

— Vladimir Putin’s first trip outside Russia in 20 months is to attend Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) anniversary summit. Both leaders aim to challenge the Western-dominated order but their partnership leans towards China.

Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023-25

Hamas: What you need to know about the group that attacked Israel

— Hamas was founded in 1987 and, since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, has clashed with the Israeli government frequently. But never like this before.

War in Ukraine

Israel-Gaza conflict: An opportunity for Putin while the world is distracted

— Conflict in the Middle East may distract the West, which could be to Russia’s advantage in the Ukraine war.

Israel

Hamas has achieved what it wanted by attacking Israel: Terror, escalation, and disruption to the international order

— The incursion into Israel was textbook terrorism and the response appears to be exactly as Hamas and its backers will have hoped.

Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh: The world should have seen this crisis coming – and it’s not over yet

— If Azerbaijan is not punished for its aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, there’s every chance it will try to capture more Armenian territory.

War in Ukraine

Ukraine War: Mixed signals among Kyiv’s allies hint at growing conflict fatigue

— As the war nears 600 days, there are signs that support for Ukraine could be beginning to waver in some parts.

COMMENT

Is the G20 in trouble?

— Xi no-show and several other headaches for host India.