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Opinion & Comment

Why Is North Korea Strengthening Its Military Alliance with Russia?

North Korea’s growing military ties with Russia reflect a strategic pivot to gain resources, technology, and relevance in a shifting global order. In June 2024, North Korea and Russia signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking their most significant military cooperation agreement since the 1961 Mutual Assistance Treaty between North Korea and the Soviet…

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Türkiye. Tactical Neutrality.

Turkey in the Israel-Iran confrontation, between strategic balancing and internal issues. In the reshaping of the Middle Eastern balance of power following the events of October 7, 2023, Turkey has adopted a balanced and pragmatic posture, reflecting its complex national interests, internal security priorities, and a geopolitical ambition expressed through a foreign policy that oscillates…

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Far more than just a plot of land.

On November 10, 1995, the Nigerian government executed nine activists from the Ogoni people, the majority of the population of the Niger Delta, for opposing the oil extraction of the Royal Dutch Shell on their land. Among them was Ken Saro-Wiwa, a well-known author and winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize. According to Amnesty International,…

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Nuclear: USA and Iran negotiate, but tensions remain.

The Trump administration has reopened dialogue with Iran, despite Israel’s opposition. The conditions set by the parties, however, make an immediate agreement difficult. After many years of geopolitical tension between the US and Iran over the nuclear issue, the US administration has returned to the negotiating table with Tehran. In 2015, Washington and its allies…

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China. The soft use of hard military power.

In recent years, Beijing’s international posture has significantly transformed, with greater emphasis on defending its geoeconomic interests, particularly those linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past five years, China’s global military footprint has grown significantly, marking a strategic transformation in Beijing’s defence and foreign policy approach. Previously guided by a strict policy…

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India and Pakistan. It was not a surprise; it was deja vu.

On 7 May, at 01:05 a.m. local time, the Indian Armed Forces carried out a limited strike operation, named Sindoor, targeting a total of 21 sites located mainly beyond the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, in Pakistan’s Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The operation, which lasted approximately 25 minutes in total, primarily involved the…

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China’s Strategy for Port Development in Africa.

Chinese firms are present in over a third of all African port developments, some of which could be used for expanded Chinese naval presence on the continent. Chinese state-owned firms are active stakeholders in an estimated 78 ports across 32 African countries as builders, financiers, or operators. Chinese port developments are concentrated in West Africa,…

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The Trump Effect: Reconciling China and the European Union.

The strong tensions triggered by the protectionist trade policies introduced by the new US administration open up significant opportunities for the People’s Republic of China, both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific. The need to structure solid supply chains, especially in a phase of strong political and economic uncertainty such as that of the present…

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China in Syria. A New Opportunity.

The fall of the Assad regime pushes China to a political pragmatism that must take into account economic interests and delicate geopolitical balances. Future developments related to Chinese economic and political commitments in Syria will have an impact not only on the Damascus-Beijing strategic partnership, but also on Moscow and Tehran. Who will actively participate…

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Trump and the Tariffs War.

Donald Trump’s protectionism, exercised with tariffs, is a piece of an ideology that sees America defending itself from those who threaten it. The first moves in trade policy of the new US administration are decidedly convulsive. Donald Trump threatens the BRICS with tariffs of up to 100% if they abandon the dollar. It is clear…

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Japan-Russia: Relations at a Low.

A century after the signing of the 1925 treaty normalising their relations, Japan and Russia are more at odds than ever. Between diplomatic tensions, territorial disputes and demonstrations of force, tensions between the two countries have continued to grow, in a global context marked by the war in Ukraine and the rapprochement between Russia and…

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New Infrastructure Corridors: Ready, Set, Go?

In a rapidly globalizing world, new trade corridors aim to transform global trade, but their success depends on overcoming challenges, with some built on solid foundations and others on shaky policies. In a rapidly evolving world, where connectivity serves as the backbone of globalization, there is surprising growth in several new trade corridors that demonstrate…

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Advocacy

Carlos Mallo Molina: a new generation of environmental stewards.

He helped lead a sophisticated, global campaign to prevent the construction of Fonsalía Port, a massive recreational boat and ferry terminal that threatened a biodiverse…

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Baobab

Rice, the food of the Gods.

A long time ago, on the island of Java, there were no rice plants. The people only grew cassava for their daily food, as rice was…

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Youth & Mission

Youth. Between dreams and reality.

Three young Africans talk about their lives, and, above all, their dreams. Ghana. Francisca. “Resilience and loyalty” My name is Francisca Appiah and I am a nurse. I was…

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