In The News

South Asia Journal: Russia’s Asia Pacific Clout

Yead Mirza November 12, 2018
Global observers regard Russia as influential for Europe and the Middle East, but less so for the Asia Pacific Asia region. Think tanks, media and online discussion platforms often overlook Russia, but the world’s 12th largest ecoomy and second largest military is adding to its Asia Pacific geopolitical presence.. “Russia has been selling weapons and other advanced military technology to the Asia...

Economic Times: India-Japan Strategic Partnership

Sanjay Pulipaka November 8, 2018
Japan and India, under prime ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe, continue to improve relations as a bulwark against more powerful China and develop balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. “Both premiers have invested heavily in the bilateral relationship and made sustained efforts to push their respective bureaucracies to catch up with their vision,” explains Sanjay Pulipaka for the...

Brookings: Saudi Arabia’s War in Yemen

Daniel L. Byman and Michael E. O’Hanlon November 2, 2018
A journalist's murder in a Saudi diplomatic consulate raises questions about the country’s leadership, goals and methods in all areas. The Brookings Institution’s Daniel Byman and Michael O’Hanlon question how the United States might punish Saudi Arabia as both countries are “locked in a relationship” of mutual dependence. Punishment could range from temporary visa bans and canceling summits...

Washington Post: Bomb Targets and Trump’s Words

Philip Rucker October 25, 2018
Nationalism is defined by Oxford Living Dictionaries as “Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.” The extreme ideology regarding any criticism as threat is especially dangerous when so many challenges are global in scope. Yet Donald Trump proudly proclaims his stance as nationalist and...

BBC: US to Pull Out From Russia Missile Treaty

October 21, 2018
Donald Trump claims that Russia is not abiding by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty and therefore the United States plans withdrawal. “The deal banned ground-launched medium-range missiles, with a range of between 500 and 5,500km (310-3,400 miles),” reports BBC News. Barack Obama, Trump’s predecessor, likewise accused Russia of breaching the treaty but heeded concerns from...

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...