Category: BRI
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U.S. Counters Iran Talks with Saudi Nuclear Deal Strategy
Simon Watkins Simon Watkins is a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for… More Info Premium Content By Simon Watkins – Apr 21, 2025, 4:00 PM CDT Following talks with Iran on reviving the nuclear deal, the U.S. began parallel discussions…
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Iraq’s Oil Embargo Was Never Just About Oil
Simon Watkins Simon Watkins is a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for… More Info Premium Content By Simon Watkins – Apr 21, 2025, 11:00 AM CDT The oil dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is fundamentally…
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Central Asia’s geography inhibits a US critical minerals partnership
Recognizing the national security risks posed by China’s chokehold over critical mineral supply chains, the new Trump administration has issued an executive order that aims to increase domestic production. This and previous administrations have also courted alternative critical mineral suppliers to diversify US supply chains. Now, attention is also shifting to the five countries of…
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China Power: Peacemaker or troublemaker? Views in Southeast Asia vary over Beijing’s efforts in global conflicts
JOHOR/MANILA/SINGAPORE: Until recently, Muhammad Umar Bakhthiar had a negative view of China as a conflict instigator and “troublemaker”. The 52-year-old Malaysian, who works in a mosque in Malaysia’s Johor state, admitted that many of his friends and family perceived China to be a “greedy country” that would take what it wanted with little regard to…
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Iraq’s 7 Million bpd Oil Production Goal Draws Swift Response from Chinese Firms
Simon Watkins Simon Watkins is a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for… More Info Premium Content By Simon Watkins – Apr 10, 2025, 5:00 PM CDT Iraq’s Oil Ministry recently reiterated its 7 million barrels per day production target. As…
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China’s Unenthusiastic Economic Engagement with Taliban-Led Afghanistan
Many believed China would be quick to assume an economic role in Afghanistan when a former PLA senior colonel argued China could step into the void as the United States withdrew in 2021. After the Taliban took over, the group called China their “most important partner” and said they would rely on Chinese funds to…
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How Beijing uses inducements as a tool of economic statecraft
Report March 24, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET William Piekos Table of contents Executive summary Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Inducements in Chinese economic statecraft Chapter 3: Taiwan’s fight for diplomatic recognition Chapter 4: Targeted inducements in other areas of Chinese foreign policy Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations Executive summary As strategic competition between the…
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What is happening in Balochistan?
On March 11, militants of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked a train with approximately 400 passengers in the mountainous region between Quetta and Sibi in Pakistan. After releasing the women and children, the BLA militants demanded the release of their compatriots from prison in exchange for the remaining passengers. The government of Pakistan refused…
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Opinion | India Should Push Trump To Be Practical About Chabahar
“Connectivity is crucial in our century…Armenia is deeply interested in advancing dialogue and developing cooperation in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) Project and the Chabahar Port Development Commission.” These words were spoken by the Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan last week in New Delhi when he delivered the 52nd Sapru House Lecture at…
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Is China Ready for Global Leadership?
Predicting China’s stance on any major global issue starts with a simple question: What is the United States’ position? More often than not, China’s approach will be shaped in reaction to US interests. For decades, China has worked to erode US influence in the international system—and thanks to US President Donald Trump, it is closer…
