International
Russian-Indian Arms Trade: Between Autarky and Interdependence
India recently launched an ambitious indigenization campaign for its defense industries, seeking to reduce its dependency on arms imports and simultaneously boost domestic manufacturing. Although this could potentially hurt the Russian military industry – India’s main supplier – India’s plans seem to mostly consist of rhetoric. It remains unlikely for the short to medium term that India will be able to effectuate the strategic shift from being dependent on imports to being self-reliant.
Who will win the race to Greenland?
Greenland is the golden ticket for any state that wants to advance into the Arctic. Previously at the margins of global attention, the sparsely populated state is resource-rich and strategically located. In order to achieve full independence, Greenland must cut economic ties with its former colonial power, Denmark. Renewed global interest could be a window of opportunity to secure foreign investment. With many suitors, which path will Greenland choose and why?
300,000 Sailors Stranded at Sea Amid Global Pandemic
The UN has recently called for the international community to rescue the crews of commercial ships, gas and oil platforms, and other workers out at sea who have been instructed to keep working, without relief, due to Covid-19.
COVID-19 and the green revolution: A new energy order in the making?
The pandemic has accelerated an ongoing switch towards greener energy, to the point that some foresee a “new energy order” in the making. But these calls are likely exaggerated, with traditional energy sources predicted to stay dominant.
The Uncertain Future of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement
In June 2020, the EU and the Mercosur trade bloc, which consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, concluded negotiations over the Political Dialogue and Cooperation part of their Association Agreement, after the free trade section was completed in June 2019. With a number of EU member states and civil society organisations voicing concerns about the environmental impact of the deal, its ratification is becoming more unlikely in the short-term.
Erdoğan versus Macron: An Ideological Clash or a Geopolitical Race?
The threat of Islamic terrorism is once again haunting French society and igniting a bitter spat between Macron and Erdoğan, while forcing France to grapple with its fiercely secular society. What does the future hold for France’s state secularism and Turkey’s increasingly provocative President?
The Future of US-Russia Relations Post-2020
For half a decade, the spectral presence of Russia has haunted US politics and caused concern on both sides of the aisle. What does the future hold for the complicated relationship between Moscow and Washington?
Populism, Leadership and Broken Campaign Pledges
Despite their struggle against the spread of the virus, populist leaders should not necessarily be counted out by their opponents. Their failings in the face of COVID-19 means their political opponents should regard them with greater attention than before, as the ensuring political landscape is one easily taken advantage of by populist rhetoric.
The Future of the Transatlantic Alliance
The Transatlantic Alliance has been the cornerstone of the post-WW2 world order. However, this historic, long-established friendship between the world’s two largest economies has become strained in recent years and is currently at a crossroads. Pulling the blocs apart is resentment over uneven military spending between the US and Europe has been emphatically echoed in Washington by both the Right and the Left. However, further trade wars are not in the Alliance’s interests, tempering isolationist concerns.
Guest Post: Jacinda Ardern Backing Social Media Ethics
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern proves to be a breath of fresh air in the current world of global politics.
