Economics

Paul R. Pillar Even if they don’t solve the fundamental issues of a conflict, ceasefires are still preferable to continuing carnage.  Ceasefires—the stopping of a war without full resolution of the underlying political issues—have not been in vogue lately. A recent feature article in The New York Times …

A. Wess Mitchell Diplomacy with Russia is not capitulation, and talking to Vladimir Putin is not a reward for good behavior. The recent hardening of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s position on Ukraine has led some critics to claim that the Trump meeting in Anchorage was a waste of …

David Sauer China dominates the rare earth industry—and has shown it is willing to weaponize its market power to wring concessions from its competitors. America needs a way to fight back. This week, Xi Jinping will host Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un at a major military parade in …

Emily Day Nuclear Energy Now tracks the latest nuclear energy developments across technology, diplomacy, industry trends, and geopolitics. Poland Announces Plan for SMRS  Poland is moving ahead with plans to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs), after state energy giant Orlen reached an agreement with Synthos Green Energy (SGE). The project will …

Graham Alison Ukraine faces a difficult choice: end the war and risk conceding territory or fight on and absorb more material, manpower, and territorial losses. Ukrainian president Zelensky brought a map of Ukraine to his meeting with President Trump last week. But he need not have bothered. When …

Rob Pierce US states should be vigilant about preventing Chinese land purchases close to military installations. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is preparing for conflict with the United States and learning from ongoing wars that are redefining how future battles may unfold. A critical lesson emerging from today’s …

Τhe Alaska Summit, on August 15, 2025, attracted media and diplomatic attention world-wide. Various theories have circulated; some viewed it as a “second Yalta”, leading to a groundbreaking resolution that could grant peace and end the Russian-Ukraine war. Others, more pragmatic than opportunists, saw it simply as an …

Resource competition has intensified between the two great powers, the US and China, due to trade and tariff wars. Recently, both the countries have made major policy shifts in the strategically significant rare earth sector. China discreetly issued 2025 rare earth mining and smelting quotas to its state-owned …

In an interview with Modern Diplomacy in mid-August 2025, Ms. Tandiwe Thelma Mgxwati, Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge d’Affaires a.i. at the South African Embassy, discussed South Africa’s presidency of the G20 and its influence on Africa in the context of geopolitical changes. Tandiwe Mgxwati further underlined the African …