Geostrategic Media Political Commentary, Analysis, Security, Defense
While the world fixates on tariffs, sanctions, and military posturing, a quieter shift is reshaping international influence. At the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, Brand Finance launched its 2026 Global Soft Power Index and the results tell a story that runs counter to almost everything dominating …
February, 2026
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12 February
Syria’s energy comeback amid challenges
Antonia Dimou Syria’s energy sector undergoes a transformative process after a decade of conflict, transitioning from severe damage toward a delicate recovery. The downfall of the Assad regime and the instatement of the transitional government in Syria revealed several challenges pertaining to the Syrian energy sector. The first …
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12 February
The New Colonialism: Energy, Minerals, and the Return of Resource Empire
Contrary to popular belief, colonialism did not end with the mid-century independence wave. Instead, it took on novel (‘neo’) and more subtle disguises such as financial institution control, labour exploitation and, perhaps most importantly, constant resource extraction. It is no secret that rare minerals are largely sourced from …
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12 February
EU Leaders Gather to Revive Competitiveness Amid US-China Pressure
European Union leaders are meeting at Belgium’s 16th-century Alden Biesen castle for an informal “retreat” aimed at confronting a growing strategic concern: how to prevent the bloc from falling further behind the United States and China economically. The EU faces mounting external pressure from U.S. trade measures under …
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12 February
The Rise of BRICS+ as a Maritime Counterweight to the U.S.
Fareena Habib On 10 January, China, Russia, and Iran launched joint BRICS Plus naval exercises in the strategic waters of South Africa. It is being marked as a significant display of military cooperation among countries increasingly aligned against the policies of the administration of President Donald Trump. The …
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12 February
The Energy Paradox: America’s Quest for Venezuelan Oil in a World China Is Electrifying
The world faces an immediate strategic challenge because global energy demand currently rises at a faster rate than previously expected. The recent developments in Venezuela’s oil exports, combined with China’s changing energy consumption and the United States’ renewed control of heavy crude from Caracas, all point to a …
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12 February
The Second Trump Administration’s Cuba Doctrine: Pressure Power Politics and Oil
Gbriel Rhodes For three hours on January 28th, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in front of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, responding to senators’ crossfire questions ranging from drug-busting actions in the Caribbean Sea to the American military operation in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro …
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4 February
The Ghosts of Neocons Past: Stabilization and Reconstruction in the Donald Trump Era
Joshua Yaphe The Middle East conflicts that the administration thought it had resolved are still simmering, and without sustained US attention, these victories may be transformed into defeats. The Donald Trump administration has achieved notable successes in asserting American dominance on the world stage, and it is likely …
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4 February
Al-Makahleh: A Cry for Action – Addressing Jordan’s Economic Heartache
Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh Jordan is no longer approaching an economic crossroads—it is standing squarely in the middle of it. From Aqaba in the south to Irbid in the north, the numbers tell one unbroken story: a society increasingly surviving on debt, not building through opportunity. What we are …
