Abiy Ahmed's political capital is shrinking as insecurity, inflation, elite fragmentation, and dependence on external patrons drive up the cost of power. Can Ethiopia's political marketplace sustain his rule much longer?
As Gulf tensions rise, Pakistan has quietly become the channel neither Washington nor Tehran can afford to lose. Islamabad’s diplomacy is no longer reactive; it is positioning itself at the center of crisis management.
No direct US-Iran talks, no easy off-ramp. As tensions shake oil routes and markets, Pakistan has become the lone bridge between Washington and Tehran. Can Islamabad turn access into diplomacy?
Madrid 2026 wasn’t diplomacy—it was redesign. Washington moves past Algeria’s veto politics, backs Morocco’s autonomy plan, and seeds a Tunis-Rabat axis built on energy sovereignty, phosphates, and geo-economic integration. The Maghreb’s balance is shifting.
Syria 2.0 in Mali? Russia’s feared “Syrian model” is failing fast. Bamako blockaded, mercenaries ambushed, rebels advancing. The myth of Moscow’s ruthless counterinsurgency prowess is melting under Sahel realities.
ECOWAS’ survival hinges less on crisis control than on building regional value chains. Nigeria’s shea nut export ban exposes risks—but also a chance to turn fragmentation into integration, jobs, and renewed regional relevance.
The UAE is redefining global security through innovation and cooperation—combining AI-driven policing, international training, and multilateral alliances to build a safer, tech-enabled world.
Pakistan–Saudi Arabia’s new “mutual defence” pact reshapes Middle East security. Beyond deterrence, it hints at a nuclear umbrella, strategic autonomy from Washington, and new risks of regional proliferation.
Peace in North Africa starts where reform begins — in Tunis. A free, open, and U.S.-backed Tunisia can anchor a Tunis–Rabat corridor of prosperity, breaking Algeria’s grip and making peace truly infectious.
The Saudi–Pakistan nuclear pact mirrors NATO’s Article 5 but raises serious legal dilemmas—can “shared deterrence” justify collective violations of the UN Charter’s prohibition on force?
If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, global oil flows would stall, but Iran’s own economy could suffer even more. A risky move with costs likely outweighing the leverage.
India-China ties are improving, but border tensions, strategic rivalry, and Indo-Pacific competition require realistic expectations. Cooperation can grow, yet enduring differences will continue shaping the relationship.
QUAD Plus can reinforce a Free and Open Indo-Pacific by expanding intelligence, technology, and maritime cooperation, reducing dependence on China and strengthening regional resilience against coercion.
Canada's submarine choice highlights a key lesson: modern arms sales depend not only on capability and price, but also on alliances, strategic trust, and long-term security partnerships. South Korea must sell relationships, not just weapons.
Abiy Ahmed's political capital is shrinking as insecurity, inflation, elite fragmentation, and dependence on external patrons drive up the cost of power. Can Ethiopia's political marketplace sustain his rule much longer?
BRICS+ offers vast potential in trade, technology and local currency cooperation, but geopolitical rivalries and divergent strategic priorities will shape whether it emerges as a cohesive force or remains a loose coalition.
