April, 2023

• 11 April

  The Age of Energy Insecurity

  

  How the Fight for Resources Is Upending Geopolitics As recently as 18 months ago, many policymakers, academics, and pundits in the United States and Europe were waxing lyrical about the geopolitical benefits of the coming transition to cleaner, greener energy. They understood that the move away from a carbon-intensive energy …

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• 11 April

  Iran and Russia Cooperation in the Construction of Rasht-Astara: The Only Remaining Railway of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

  

  The 164 km Rasht-Astara railway route in Iran’s Gilan Province is of great importance in the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), because it is the only remaining rail part of this corridor, writes Valdai Club expert Vali Kaleji. In his article, Dr. Vali Kaleji, a Tehran-based expert on Central Asia …

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• 10 April

  Here are 7 signs that global dedollarization has just kicked into high gear

  

  Being the world’s leading reserve currency has allowed the United States to enjoy a massively inflated standard of living: that one is coming to an end. For decades, the US dollar has been the undisputed king of global currencies, but dramatic changes are happening. China, Russia, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia …

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• 10 April

  Lebanon’s Hezbollah hosts Hamas chief as rockets fly over Israel border

  

  The delegation has reportedly discussed efforts to coordinate action against Israel. As Israel staves off rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon’s border in an apparent response to the escalation in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque — Islam’s third holiest site — a Hamas delegation led by the head of …

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• 10 April

  Is China playing long game against dollar in Middle East?

  

  Hemingway’s law of motion says change comes gradually, then suddenly. The other China deal Much attention has been rightly focused on China’s role in closing the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish diplomatic relations. Another deal has gotten less attention, but may be just as telling in serving …

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• 10 April

  CIA director visited Saudi Arabia, aired ‘frustration’ over Iran, Syria thaw

  

  The CIA director met the country’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and reportedly expressed displeasure with Washington being “blindsided” over agreements brokered by China and Russia. CIA Director Bill Burns made an unannounced trip to Saudi Arabia this week where he reportedly aired Washington’s frustrations over Riyadh’s opening to Iran …

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• 10 April

  Israel, Lebanon’s Hezbollah agree to avoid confrontation, but for how long?

  

  After two days of rockets first from Gaza and then from the Lebanese border, tensions seem to have calmed, at least temporary. Israel’s Army Radio reported Friday afternoon that the Israeli military (IDF) cleared residents of the Gaza border area to resume their normal activities after a night of rocket …

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• 10 April

  ‘A New World Order’? The Iran-Russia-China Axis During the Biden Administration

  

  The Biden Administration has created a vacuum of leadership on the global stage. If the US further pulls out of Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America — anywhere — the vacuum created will surely be filled by the new axis of China-Russia-Iran. A US pull-out is, most …

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• 10 April

  UAE Leader Consolidates Power Amid Regional Uncertainty

  

  Recent leadership appointments by United Arab Emirates President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) have clarified the succession during a time of significant regional challenges.There is debate over whether the appointment of a second UAE vice president, joining Dubai emirate leader and UAE Prime Minister …

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• 10 April

  “Does This Compromise President Biden?”

  

  The notion that a declining power like Russia, which has domestic problems, a shrinking economy, a shrinking demographic base, is somehow a bigger threat than China is laughable. It is indicative of a larger issue, which is that Biden essentially has a soft spot for Beijing. The question, of course, …

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