Millennium Challenge Corporaion (MCC) still under debate amongst Nepal and USA. But with China, except for a phone conversation between the two foreign ministers and a few bilateral mechanism-level meetings, there has been limited engagement. Both sides blame Covid-19 for such a situation, but then high-level Chinese officials have been […]
Read Time : 10 Minutes
Europe Must Shed Its Illusions About Russia
Britain would like to forget its own continent from which, in former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s words, “all our troubles came” and recreate a maritime relationship with trading hubs in Asia, forgetting the great game that lies between. Germany still clings to the belief that just because it has […]
Read Time : 11 Minutes
Xi Jinping Has Transformed China’s Middle East Policy
Traditionally, Beijing had been wary of getting embroiled in a region that a Chinese scholar once described as a “chaotic and dangerous graveyard burying empires.” But in 2014, Xi vowed to more than double trade with the region by 2023. China has become the biggest importer of crude, with almost […]
Read Time : 12 Minutes
The Middle East’s Conflicts Aren’t Done With the Emirates
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis once famously—or perhaps infamously—referred to the UAE as “Little Sparta.” The remark reflected the fact that unlike other countries in the region, the UAE has developed an effective military force , especially compared to other regional armed forces. Emirati soldiers fought alongside U.S. forces in […]
Read Time : 21 Minutes
Afghanistan’s Diplomats Refuse to Represent a Terrorist Group
In the United States, Afghan consulates received simple introductory messages. Others seemed more demanding: One embassy in Europe began receiving emails from a Taliban-marked Gmail address asking for diplomats to send their names and active work plans. Some of the messages, sent from email and WhatsApp, were uncharacteristically polite, diplomats […]
Read Time : 11 Minutes
Why India Is Silent on the Ukraine Crisis
If you would like to receive South Asia Brief in your inbox every Thursday, please sign up here . The highlights this week: The Ukraine crisis puts India in a diplomatic bind, Norway hosts a conference with Taliban officials , and South Asia fares poorly in new global corruption rankings […]
Read Time : 26 Minutes
America’s War for Global Order Is a Marathon
During the Cold War, competition was a way of life. For 45 years, U.S. officials grappled with a dangerous adversary in the ambiguous space between peace and war. They devised generational strategies while responding to crises and surprises. They racked up impressive achievements and committed grievous errors along the way. […]