Is Russia Really Becoming China’s Vassal?

China may have the opportunity to turn Russia into its vassal, but it has no compelling reason to do so.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia-China cooperation has grown in all directions. Moscow makes no bones about the fact that it is betting on China in the global confrontation with the West, seeing Beijing as an alternative center of power with similar interests and values to itself.

A French Spring amid a new Wagner Opera? Macron Pivots to BRICS as IMF Mission Creeps in Sri Lanka and India Provincializes Europe

Topped off by a curious ‘coup’ attempt in Russia, June was a fascinating month with new geopolitical economic developments, twists and turns on many fronts: As US President Biden wooed, wined and dined India’s Prime Minister Modi (who was once refused a visa to America), France’s Macron sought an invite from South African President Ramaphosa to the BRICS summit to be held in August though France is hardly an ‘emerging economy’.

The Multifaceted Threat Of Afghanistan’s Instability: Implications For Neighbors And The Global Community – OpEd

The ongoing instability in Afghanistan has far-reaching implications not only for its neighboring countries but also for the global community. As the country grapples with political turmoil, security challenges, and social unrest, the repercussions of this instability reverberate across regional and international borders.

This article delves into the multifaceted nature of Afghanistan’s instability and explores the various ways it poses a threat to its neighbors and the wider global community. From the rise of extremist groups to the potential spillover of violence and the displacement of populations, the consequences of Afghanistan’s instability demand attention and concerted efforts to address the complex challenges it presents.

Is US Dollar Hegemony Under Threat? – Analysis

This analysis provides a reassessment of dollar hegemony and power relations in the international monetary system.

Summary
Despite renewed predictions that dollar hegemony has reached its peak, the greenback continues to dominate global trade, finance and the reserve portfolios of central bankers around the world. But can high inflation, geopolitical tensions and the sanctions levied on Russia by the US and its allies dent its global dominance? Focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the sanctions on Russia, and the ‘steep hike’ of interest rates by the Federal Reserve, this paper reassesses power relations in the international monetary system and analyses the state of dollar hegemony. It finds that, although the US dollar still reigns supreme, there are certain undercurrents that indicate the slow erosion of its global dominance and the gradual shift towards a multipolar currency order. To prevent, or at least slow down, the pace of further fragmentation, the West ought to re-evaluate the use of financial sanctions as a foreign policy tool and offer the Global South more voice in international monetary relations.

Afghanistan Webinar

On Thursday, The Soufan Center hosted a virtual discussion on the security, political, and human rights dimensions of the current situation in Afghanistan. Moderated by TSC’s Colin P. Clarke, the conversation featured Arian Sharifi, Amira Jadoon, and Ioannis Koskinas, with an introduction by our Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Fink.

The Taliban and the Islamic State Continue to Fight for Afghanistan’s Future

The Taliban’s ability to lead Afghanistan remains questionable and ongoing instability has provided the Islamic State the opportunity for expansion.

On April 25, 2023, U.S. officials confirmed that the Taliban had killed the head of the Islamic State (IS) cell operating in Afghanistan. Though his identity has not been revealed, the IS leader is believed to have masterminded the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. military personnel.