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The 2021 Coup led by Myanmar’s military junta is a turning point for the country’s relations with China. The junta had ousted the democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi that promised a better life for the citizens of Myanmar. Many South East Asian countries were benefitting from better relations with Western countries through trade and tourism, but all of that has been quashed by the junta. Without Western support to challenge the junta, the country is stuck in a stat

In Havana, when the sun goes down, the city goes dark — sadly not in a metaphorical way. On January 29th, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that enforces an effective embargo on foreign oil shipments to Cuba, threatening to impose tariffs on any country supplying fuel to the island. The situation has become unbearable for the population. Some have turned to charcoal for cooking; those who have the means have installed solar panels. The situation is even more co

One of the first executive orders from the second Trump Administration was to formally withdraw from the United Nations’ World Health Organisation. Established in 1948, the WHO  tasked itself with the improvement of public health through international cooperation. The organisation was given the “ mandate  under its constitution to promote the attainment of ‘the highest possible level of health’ by all peoples.” Public health has changed vastly in the last eighty years and has

While major powers like the United States and China are shifting their attention elsewhere, the UAE is filling the void in Africa. There is so much potential when it comes to Africa and the United Arab Emirates is investing heavily with new infrastructure projects and new technology. The UAE has grown more ambitious in recent years when it comes to vested interests of economic stability and security on the continent. There are some who believe  that they are the only country

Introduction Over the past decade, France and Germany started multiple joint programs meant to reinforce their defence capacities and build a stronger European autonomy. From the MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) in 2012, the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) in 2017, to the Eurodrone officially launched in 2022, these initiative supported by other European partners (Spain and Italy) were meant to deepen the relationship. Nevertheless, in the past years has generated mixed signa

Economic sanctions are utilised to apply pressure on a nation state in a non-violent approach. The idea is to minimise the use of a military force in a way that will politically undermine another government. Most Western states welcome the use of sanctions as this precludes the need to put troops in harm’s way and opens the door to diplomatic discussions. This scenario is especially important when dealing with a state that is in possession of nuclear arms. Russia’s invasion i

From the outset of his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that his goal was to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), frequently asserting the United States’ dominance through both domestic and international campaigns, thereby exacerbating turbulence in the global geopolitical landscape. Hong Kong based company (registered on Cayman Island) CK Hutchison’s Panama port deal was a prime example of great-power rivalry, in which commercial actors found it difficult

After World War II, the major powers decided on peace by working together to create a system that will foster cooperation. The United Nations grew out of this idea so that states would work together to maintain security. The United Nations General Assembly is the main policy-making body of the organisation that includes 193 member states. Providing a space for conflict resolution is the main goal of the United Nations but many have seen the institution as powerless and ineffe

Developing the best technology is the goal for any business. Without the best teams for research and development, it would be difficult to achieve this goal, which is where many governments step in to incentivise and regulate. The digital world is changing rapidly so it is paramount to remain competitive and foster technological advances to be the best. Many governments run into issues surrounding control and access to digital technology that many are turning to their own cit

Introduction: Chinese leadership began 2026 with increased diplomatic engagement with Western states and multilateral institutions, at a time where U.S. commitment to multilateralism seems to be waning. In recent weeks, China met with Ireland, the U.K., Finland, and the African Union (A.U.), framing these meetings, particularly those with Finland and the African Union, around support for international law, multipolar governance, and the important role of the United Nations. W

Introduction: The violent group M23 is at the heart of the instability in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the Kivu region (far East of the DRC), this rebel group took multiple great cities such as Goma, Bukavu and Uvira over the past year, and is now controlling the zone, establishing a parallel administration. M23 is backed by the Rwandan government, in what Kinshasa (Capital of DRC) accuses to be a will to pillage the natural resources of the region . On the other si

Imagine a trade deal that takes twenty-five years to negotiate, sparks protests across Europe, divides governments, worries environmental groups, and is expected to become one of the most consequential trade agreements of the decade, yet, never designed to deliver immediate economic returns or to transform people’s livelihoods overnight. So why was it signed at all? Because regardless of major implementation challenges, political resistance, and slow effects, the agreement se

On 28 December 2025, the Iranian rial  plummeted to a record low against the U.S. dollar and economic uncertainty was further inflamed when the inflation rate was reportedly 42.2 percent. Against the backdrop of deteriorating security, nationwide protests emerged across the country, which generated new threats to the oppressive regime. The tensions have been building for quite some time  as p rices have “risen by 35% in the past year” and there are some estimates of 18 percen

Climate change is reshaping how goods are transported around the globe. With smaller ice caps in the Arctic, ships and tankers are able to navigate new routes. This scenario is especially helpful to the northernmost territories who want to find faster maritime routes. Access to the Arctic has other benefits too so it is important to understand what is at stake when it comes to having control over strategic territories. In the last year, there has been a lot of discussion over

The war in Ukraine, the “ inevitable reunification ” of Taiwan with China, or the intervention of the USA in Venezuela and its ambitions over Greenland marked a clear return to Great Power Politics. In what can be seen as a chaotic beginning of 2026, where the EU could place itself among these great powers, and how can it respond to it? Often considered a political dwarf, the EU has never been thought of in terms of power, but rather as a vast economic union. In this logic, t

“Everything that exists requires energy to create and to operate—not some things, everything,” said energy analysis expert Mark P. Mills back in 2024. That remark may sound evident but it keeps returning to my mind in recent months with every new headline that piles up: Russian strikes on Ukrainian power stations, oil seizures and sanctions, a major blackout in Berlin, U.S. military action linked to Venezuela’s energy sector, and renewed American interest in acquiring Greenla

Global firms are changing the way they do business. Political decisions from powerful countries are changing how multinational companies (MNC) make decisions on their operations. This can be seen in many countries where there is political instability, whether it is heavily sanctioned or a newly formed regime change. Many countries that are deemed risky are often in a region that has an abundance of natural resources or located near a strategic chokepoint or have a large workf

Photo Credit: Screen captured from CCTV’s YouTube Channel 军迷天下 The U.S. president Donald Trump’s arrest of Venezuela's former leader Nicolás Maduro is a textbook example of potential attack by China to Taiwan’s leadership. Hints have been given by Chinese special forces’ ‘decapitation’ drill. Trump’s move has encouraged and justified China’s plan. Here are the explanations.  China has released footage of Chinese special forces, showing a Venezuela-style tactical sniper operat

Introduction In the past decade, new security actors arose around the globe, and particularly in Africa, where companies like the Wagner Group or Africa Corps raised concerns. These groups, operating all over the continent are French, British, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Turkish or American, and participate in multiple security activities, ranging from enhancing national military, to conducting reconnaissance and intelligence operations, and some of them directly take part i

In 1991, the Somali National Movement declared autonomy over Somaliland, which is located in the northern area in the Horn of Africa. The strategic location of this territory is especially significant to maintain sovereignty for the recognised government of Somalia. After many years of democratic unrecognised governance, Somaliland is receiving attention from significant powers throughout the region. Earlier this week, major headlines from news sites announced  that Israel ha