Turkey will host an April 1 conference between Afghanistan and Pakistan mainly to discuss security issues. We have discussed Turkey’s diplomatic ascendance in previous posts, here and here. Turkey’s continual assistance (some could consider it interference) in regional issues makes Ankara indispensable for peace brokering in the Middle East.
Following a similar proposal by Russia, China called for the creation of a new international currency reserve to replace the dollar. The governor of the People’s Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, said the International Monetary Fund could manage a new currency reserve system that would be more effective in “safeguarding global economic and financial stability.” […]
Indian Tata Motors company announced a new car over the weekend: the Nano. It’s cheap, and meant to be consumed by the “common man” in India. While Detroit’s auto makers are failing, and Sweden’s Saab appears to be even worse off, Tata is so far putting its best foot forward and hoping a cheap product […]
Russia has almost always been a thorn in the side for American diplomats. And under the watch of President George W Bush, Russia-US relations reached what many called Cold War-like lows. A growing number of commentators and analysts suggest that ties may be warming now. Both the Obama administration and the Medvedev administration have been […]
Democracy is not free. The Indian Premier League is set to begin in weeks, but the cricket matches will not be played in India. The tournament, scheduled during the height of upcoming national elections, will be moved out of the country due to security concerns. The world’s most populous democracy remains on high alert for […]
“How China sees the world” is on the cover of this week’s Economist. The article discusses China’s ascent and increasing assertiveness in international affairs. “Already a big idea has spread far beyond China: that geopolitics is now a bipolar affair, with America and China the only two that matter.” But, as the piece correctly points […]
In honor of Nowruz, United States President Barack Obama recorded a message to the people and leaders of Iran calling for a “new day” of engagement “grounded in mutual respect.” “The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right — but […]
The G-20 is the forum of the future. See its web site at http://www.g20.org/. When the international system is in transformation because of a significant shift in the relative power of nations, as it may well be now, this shift could take place with violence or with a flurry of effective diplomacy. Either way, the […]
The IMF has been stepping up to help solve the global financial crisis. Only a few years ago, it was experiencing an identity crisis and was under fire from many corners. This post addresses the IMF’s changing role and shows a chart detailing its planned redistribution of voting rights that will ensure greater representation of […]
The IMF, in an effort to play a useful role in resolving the current financial crisis, has produced the following research and commentary on the crisis. This important analysis can help policy practitioners and observers cut through the fog of media coverage and the associated tendency toward populism. On March 6, the IMF produced […]
It’s no secret that North Korea and China are close. Of all Pyongyang’s neighbors, it has the most intricate and rosy relationship with Beijing. Today Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao welcomed North Korean Prime Minister Kim Yong-Il (not to be confused with Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il) to Beijing. The two men held a very cordial conversation […]
14. With Russia rearming and China continuing to modernize its armed forces, it is easy to forget that America’s military spending is more than the next 14 biggest countries combined. Graphic from the Economist.
Kenneth Vogel writes in Politico about conspiracy theorists convinced that the “highest levels of the Obama administration are infested with members of a shadowy, elitist cabal intent on installing a one-world government that subverts the will of the American people.” The conspiracy theorists point to President Obama’s selections for top posts – it turns out […]
The Strategic forecasting and consulting firm Stratfor, based in Houston, Texas, released an interesting analysis today comparing Russia and Turkey in their capacities as rising powers (You might not be able to read it in case you’re not a subscriber). Stratfor breaks down the possible areas of conflict and cooperation between the two nations. The […]
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, speaking before top generals on Tuesday, announced the country’s intention to modernize and rearm the military and nuclear forces in 2011. Moscow perceives remaining threats to Russia’s national security, particularly NATO’s encroachment on its borders. And despite a swift victory, last year’s war in Georgia exposed Russia’s tired arsenal. “An analysis […]