The author is a President of Second Floor Strategies, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He covers geopolitical, defense, and trade issues in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Western Hemisphere.
The author is a President of Second Floor Strategies, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He covers geopolitical, defense, and trade issues in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Western Hemisphere.
The author is a President of Second Floor Strategies, a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. He covers geopolitical, defense, and trade issues in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Western Hemisphere.
Two British citizens, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, have been detained by Iranian authorities, which accuses them of being spies. Unless released, the couple could...
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.
Poland is widening its Asia-Pacific outreach through resilience diplomacy, defence partnerships, and economic cooperation, reflecting a broader EU middle-power push to adapt to shifting geopolitics and strategic uncertainty.
Indonesia’s foreign policy is shifting: deeper BRICS engagement, de-dollarization moves, and balanced ties with the US and China signal Jakarta’s push for autonomy, diversification, and a stronger Global South voice.
Heartland vs. Rimland in the Indian Ocean: China pushes from Africa’s interior outward, India builds trust along the ocean’s rim. Two strategies, one arena—shaping the IOR’s future in radically different ways.
Asia’s illicit economy is shifting from gangs to algorithms—automated tools, crypto rails, and fluid digital platforms creating a fast, leaderless shadow system that outpaces regulation and reshapes regional power.
