Governments typically make big bets either when they are overly confident or increasingly worried. Saudi Arabia’s oil strategy doesn’t reflect confidence. With the frail health of King Abdullah, possible succession rivalries, domestic pressures for change, conflict in neighboring Yemen, and the many challenges posed by ISIS, Riyadh may be in for more than it bargained for. Read Here – Foreign Affairs
A dazzling number of foreign policy initiatives have emerged since the new Chinese leadership assumed the office less than two years ago. Arguably, this has led to one of themost dynamic periods in PRC’s history of foreign relations. Is another diplomatic revolution taking place? Read Here – People’s Daily
Hopes that China’s reemergence as an energetic great power would be paralleled by a partly natural, partly orchestrated gravitation toward a new and resilient geopolitical order have faded in favor of a search for new and stronger alignments as states seek to insulate themselves from intensifying geopolitical turbulence. Read Here – The National Interest
If a Presidential candidate refers to himself as a devil, chances are he’s in trouble. Last week, campaigning ahead of this Thursday’s election, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the incumbent Sri Lankan President, tried hard to endear himself to an audience in the northern city of Jaffna. The crowd consisted almost entirely of Tamils, the island’s largest minority, […]
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to create and fulfil an Asia-Pacific dream, saying China’s economy will bring huge opportunities and benefits to the region and the world. Addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, which attracted over 1,500 business people from 21 APEC member economies and 17 other countries and regions, […]
In an attempt to build India’s industrial base nationwide, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is pushing the Make in India campaign, designed to attract foreign investment by highlighting the ongoing changes. How does the effort all stack up agains China? Read Here – Businessweek
Businessweek takes a look at what to expect next year
What we are currently witnessing is Mr. Modi’s inability to abandon all that rhetoric. Building up jingoism has been an essential part of this quintessential campaigner. Even if he wants to — which we are not sure about — he is unable to shake off the rhetoric that has built him, writes Varghese George Read […]
What does global communication look like? One way to picture it is by mapping phone calls—specifically where they’re coming from and heading to. Read Here – The Atlantic
The presence of Chinese naval platforms in Sri Lanka, and India’s discomfiture at this development, is part of the complex signalling that is underway, and the East Asia Summit deliberations in Myanmar may test PM Narendra Modi’s summit-level politico-diplomatic acumen in an unexpected manner. Read Here – Daily Mail
looking beyond borders 