Economics
EU divisions and US sanctions to delay Nord Stream 2
Under pressure from US sanctions, legislation in Denmark, and weakening support in Germany, Nord Stream 2 will likely be significantly delayed.
Why Nord Stream 2 will go ahead despite opposition
Opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will be outweighed by existing investments, economic benefits, and the backing of major European powers.
The challenges to reform in post-coup Zimbabwe
Robert Mugabe’s grip on Zimbabwe may finally have been released, following the takeover by the military. But the country’s problems are far from over.
Is PDVSA running out of fuel?
The PDVSA payment delays showed that the Maduro administration, strapped for cash, is fighting for its economic and political survival.
Sino-Indian relations in the Indian Ocean can be win-win
With Chinese- and Indian-funded capital projects in Sri Lanka mired in controversy, it is tempting to assume that the island state has become a new frontier in Sino-Indian relations. The reality, however, is not nearly so dramatic.
China’s growing presence ratchets tensions in Sri Lanka
Holding a key position along strategic maritime routes, Sri Lanka has drawn a high level of economic investment. China and India, long-time competitors for influence in the Indian Ocean, have brought their geopolitical competition to the ports of Sri Lanka – and raised social unrest risks locally in the process.
Egypt’s economic recovery will stall under state of emergency
On 12 October President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi declared yet another state of emergency – aimed at fighting terrorism. In the context of recent attacks, the policy’s effectiveness is in question.
Will Trump’s Asia tour fix America’s Southeast Asia problem?
Trump’s Asia tour is a chance to present a more concrete US strategy, to reassure allies, and to shape the region’s geopolitics in America’s favor.
The economic cost of the Catalonia crisis
The political crisis in Spain is starting to have economic consequences. Companies are moving their headquarters from Catalonia, and GDP forecasts are down.
Saudi Arabia’s new economy: Projecting power in an unstable region
Part 3 of our special series on Saudi 2.0 assesses the outlook for economic reforms, and whether regional conflicts will put everything at risk.
