In The News

The Economist: Saudi Arabia’s Alliances Tested

October 28, 2018
The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey has put pressure on the US government to reassess its relationship with Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman. However, Donald Trump may be willing to look the other way as the crown prince continues to shield himself from blame over Khashoggi’s death. Turkey is making “a whitewash more difficult” and “Its investigators...

Times of India: Khashoggi Mystery

Nayan Chanda October 22, 2018
The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul puts a spotlight on Saudi-US relations and investigations that seem more about spinning stories to ease public concerns than getting at the truth. “The Khashoggi mystery is proving hard to solve not because it is such a tough case to crack, but because the known facts are too simple to reach anything other than a damning...

NBC News: Rift Between US Allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia

Alastair Jamieson and Kristina Jovanovski October 14, 2018
Saudi Arabia has failed to produce video showing that Jamal Khashoggi left the Saudi embassy in Istanbul alive, and Turkey claims to hold evidence of a Saudi hit team murdering the journalist. Khashoggi’s s disappearance from what should be a safe place highlights blatant disregard for press freedoms and human rights. The incident is souring relations between the two nations that are both US...

The Week: US-Saudi Alliance Must End

Ryan Cooper October 11, 2018
An old proverb suggests people are known by the company they keep, and that applies to countries, too. “There is no better demonstration of the moral and political rot at the heart of the American government than its increasingly poisonous alliance with Saudi Arabia,” writes Ryan Cooper for the Week. “Saudi Arabia is no friend of democracy, liberty, or even common decency.” Oil wealth combined...

Bloomberg: Nafta’s China Clause

Josh Wingrove October 10, 2018
After much fanfare about scrapping the North America Free Trade Agreement, US President Donald Trump reached a new deal with neighbors called the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. A new clause stipulates that if members of the North American pact reach a trade deal with a non-market economy then they would be ineligible for some USMCA benefits. Given Trump’s fiery rhetoric about launching a trade war...

Sydney Morning Herald: China Seeks to Mend Australian Ties

Kirsty Needham September 27, 2018
The United States has issued tariffs targeting Chinese imports, and China has responded in kind. China, in search of substitute markets, is also moving to improve ties and trade with Australia, which has a new government since August 24 led by Scott Morrison, as well as Japan and South Korea. China is both lead exporter and importer for Australia by comfortable margins. Other export destinations...

Reuters: An Imperfect UN Still the World’s Best Hope

Peter Apps September 27, 2018
The United Nations has a track record of preventing wars, pointing out atrocities and human rights violations, encouraging dialogue and setting goals. Reform would be useful – including an adjustment in the frustrating veto power of the Security Council’s five permanent members – but the world should be grateful. “The assembly gives smaller nations and groupings a voice, and its resolutions can...