Topics Archive
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 31, 2019
Mnuchin signals end to trade war
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that if China presents enough trade concessions to President Donald Trump, there’s a chance the administration may lift all tariffs. The United States and…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 31, 2019
Russia offered nuclear plant to North Korea
Moscow has secretly offered North Korea with a nuclear power plant in exchange for dismantling its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Russia’s offer came as negotiations between Washington and…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 30, 2019
Venezuela crisis grows
National Security Advisor John Bolton has threatened the government in Caracas that he denounced as “illegitimate” not to lay a finger on Juan Guaido, the opposition figure Washington considers to be…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 30, 2019
Syria and Iran deepen cooperation
Damascus and Tehran sign 11 agreements and MoUs including a new “long-term economic cooperation” agreement in attempts to rebuild the war-torn country. The Syrian Civil War has been going on since…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 29, 2019
Japan to ink peace treaty with Russia over Kuril Islands
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has confirmed that Moscow and Tokyo will solve their territorial dispute and sign a peace treaty based on the 1956 Joint Declaration over the Kuril Islands dispute…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 29, 2019
Venezuela slips further into chaos
The Venezuelan opposition is in talks with sympathetic military and civilian officials in a bid to force out President Nicolás Maduro, self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaidó said. Meanwhile,…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 29, 2019
US-Taliban pact soon?
After six days of intensive negotiations, Taliban insurgents and U.S. officials meeting in Qatar appear closer Saturday to an agreement that could result in the withdrawal of American troops after 17…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 26, 2019
US sends two warships through Taiwan Strait
The United States Navy has sent two warships through the Taiwan Strait while China and US remain embroiled in trade and military tensions. The US Navy has increased the frequency of transits through…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 25, 2019
Sudan’s new supporters
UAE, Turkey, Qatar, Russia pledge economic support for Sudan's embattled government after protests erupted against the Omar al-Bashir administration. Sudan has been criticised from all quarters ever…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 25, 2019
OPEC+ ponders stability in 2019
IEA, OPEC and EIA data imply that oil production cuts should balance the market in the first half of 2019. The last year saw an extremely volatile oil market with the prices returning to pre-2013…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 25, 2019
China’s latest diplomatic row
Australia has questioned China’s detention of one of its citizens, who is said to be in the custody of state security officials. This is the latest diplomatic row to involve China, which is already…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 24, 2019
France and Germany sign Aachen treaty
President Macron and Chancellor Merkel signed a new treaty on Franco-German friendship in the border town of Aachen. The new friendship treaty commits both countries for deeper co-operation in…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 24, 2019
Top US diplomat in Europe resigns
A. Wess Mitchell, the top diplomat in charge of European affairs, will resign from the State Department next month, creating a key vacancy at a time when European leaders are questioning President…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 24, 2019
Parliament moves to delay Brexit
The British Parliament is moving closer to a plan to delay Brexit in order to stop the country dropping out of the European Union with no deal and avoid the risk of an economically damaging divorce.…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 24, 2019
Tensions between Israel and Iran rise over Syria
Israel has launched its most incisive attack on Iranian positions in neighbouring Syria since the civil war began in 2011 , bring the two nations closer to the verge of a direct collision. Israel has…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 23, 2019
Qatar to support Lebanese economy with $500m
Qatar plans to buy $500 million worth of Lebanese sovereign bonds to support Lebanon’s economy. Lebanon has one of the world’s highest levels of public debt compared to GDP and stagnant growth.…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 22, 2019
Greece protests against Macedonia deal
Protesters have clashed with police in the Greek capital Athens at a big rally to oppose the government's deal with Macedonia on changing its name. The deal, which is yet to be approved, designates…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 22, 2019
Good Friday deal to be amended?
British Prime Minister Theresa May is considering solving the Brexit deadlock by amending the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) after abandoning attempts to negotiate a cross-party deal. The Good Friday…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 22, 2019
Israel targets Iranian ground assets
Israel says it has hit Iranian targets around the Syrian capital, Damascus. The Israel Defense Forces say the overnight operation targeted the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, as…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jan 21, 2019
France will stay ‘military engaged’ in Middle East
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France would continue to remain ‘militarily engaged’ in the Middle East region through 2019. This comes at a time when the US is preparing to withdraw its…