Category: Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598

  • Kazakhstan strategy between Russian alliance and Western sanctions

    Tokayev’s suggestion to create an organisation in the framework of the CIS to promote the Russian language might be interpreted as Kazakhstan’s attempt to normalise relations with Russia, which were downgraded due to the Ukraine conflict and the Western sanctions.

  • Ukraine conflict, Ramzan Kadyrov’s strategic communications and possible future scenarios

    Since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has played a decisive and influential role in assisting the Russian military operations on the ground with his kadyrovtsy and Chechen troops and supporting the Kremlin’s ideological confrontation with the West.

  • The geopolitical value of Myanmar in China’s Belt and Road Initiative

    Due to its geographical position in the Asia-Pacific, Myanmar plays a strategic role in China’s regional policy, especially in connection with the Malacca Dilemma.

  • Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: causes and analysis of an endless border dispute

    Due to the borders drawn by the former Soviet Union with no regard for ethnic, political, economic, and cultural factors, the Central Asian countries Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have faced each other for 31 years, and the recent military escalation highlighted regional instability and geopolitical strategies promoted by Dushanbe and Bishkek.

  • Caspian Sea Summit geopolitical background

    In October 2022, representatives of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia will attend the second Caspian Economic Forum hosted in Moscow to discuss future energy cooperation and projects.

  • How can the United States and Japan strengthen their alliance against Russia and China?

    The United States and Japan have intensified their military, commercial and diplomatic cooperation to counter Russia and China’s strategy in the Asia-Pacific and strengthen Washington’s foreign policy Pivot to Asia. 

  • Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia threatens the stability of the South Caucasus

    The Azerbaijani army’s aggression against Armenia raises concerns about the stability of the South Caucasus, an area which plays a fundamental role in the EU Energy Security Strategy.

  • The People’s Republic of China and the ‘Third Pole’ Water Resources Management

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 23 Issue 2 – In recent years, the People’s Republic of China has heavily invested in renewable resources, particularly in the hydropower sector. Under the Xi Jinping administration, this energy sector has progressively assumed a role in sustaining part of the electricity demand of both the industrial and civil sectors.

  • Geopolitics of Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Italy

    Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Italy confirmed Baku’s interest in strengthening commercial and business partnerships with Rome and attracting Italian investments in the reconstruction process in the Nagorno-Karabakh territories, which are now under Azerbaijani control.

  • Iran’s interests and strategy in Central Asia

    Over the years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has consolidated its relations with the countries of Central Asia, exploiting either the Persian common ethnic-cultural element or proposing itself as a logistic hub for the energy sector and trade corridors.

  • Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan: will the United States reinforce the Pivot to Asia policy?

    Nanci Pelosi’s visit to Taipei and the U.S. military manoeuvres in the region confirmed Washington’s interests in the Asia-Pacific and the United States’ attempt to achieve political-strategic goals in an area which has experienced the rise of Chinese military and political presence.

  • The Kazakhstan energy politics: is oil diversification a geopolitical conundrum?

    In a world of growing polarity, Kazakhstan has been attempting to portray itself as a bridge connecting the East and the West. However, the so-called Russian “special operation” in Ukraine has forced the Central Asian nation to distance itself gradually from Moscow.

  • The Sino-Japanese dispute over energy resources in the East China Sea

    China and Japan are competing in the East China Sea on the local energy resources considered fundamental in Beijing’s economic and foreign policy and Tokyo’s strategic approach to the Asia-Pacific.

  • Rimpac 2022: the most important U.S. manoeuvre in the Pacific

    Among the framework of Rimpac 2022, Washington has organised several training activities to enhance interoperability between the U.S. Navy, Amy, Marines and Airforce and the armed forces of allied countries part of the Asia-Pacific region and contrast the rising Chinese threat in the area.

  • Vietnam: a disputed land between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

    The People’s Republic of China and the United States have embarked on a foreign policy aimed at influencing political and economic dynamics in Vietnam, a republic in the Asia-Pacific which plays a strategic role thanks to its geographical position.

  • Russia and Iran: boosting strategic partnership to counter Western pressure

    Although Russian – Iranian ties date back to the Islamic Revolution, Moscow’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine (or special military operation as the Kremlin has always declared) and Tehran’s nuclear ambitions have strengthened the cooperation and pushed these Western adversaries together.

  • Tension between Greece and Turkey reaches new heights

    Over the past two months, the tension in Greek-Turkish relations has reached new heights. What triggered it seemed to have been the age-old Turkish claims concerning the continental shelf delimitation and the total demilitarisation of the Greek Islands in the Eastern Aegean.

  • The US Valiant Shield 22 exercise: a warning to Beijing

    US Indo-Pacific Command coordinated the Valiant Shield exercise conducted near the second island chain and in the Philippine Sea to counter the Chinese presence in the Asia-Pacific.

  • Uncertainty and instability in contemporary Afghanistan

    Since the U.S. troops’ withdrawal and the Taliban’s rise to power, Afghanistan has witnessed huge uncertainty, instability and destabilisation due to the terrorist threat and criminal activities, economic problems, interethnic confrontation aggravated by the Taliban interim government, and regional and international geopolitical interests.

  • The Iraqi crisis: between energy disputes and political stalemate

    The ongoing political crisis is not the only issue affecting Iraq. Fight against terrorism, extreme drought, frequent sandstorms, demonstrations against rampant corruption, and a dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan to manage the hydrocarbon fields in the north are challenging the central Government of Baghdad.

  • Astana Peace Talks, Syrian refugees and Turkish new military operation

    On June 15th, 2022, the 18th international meeting of Astana Peace Talks kicked off in Nur Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. As guarantor countries, delegations from Russia, Turkey and Iran (which launched the Astana peace process in January 2017) will meet the Syrian government and opposition forces during the two-day talks.

  • Hong Kong: The Fall of ‘One Country, Two Systems’

    This analysis attempts to understand the Xi Jinping administration’s geopolitical vision for Hong Kong by examining the National security law and the economic-financial interaction between the PRC economy and Fragrant Harbour.

  • Bahrain, energy market and media: a meeting with Rashid Al-Hamer and Sara Najeeb

    SpecialEurasia investigated contemporary Bahrein, its energy market and media situation with Rashid Al-Hamer, the Secretary-General of the Bahrain Journalists Association, and Sara Najeeb, board member and Head of the Media Committee of the Bahrain Journalists Association.

  • Kurdistan politics and media: a conversation with Dr Nazakat Hussein

    Kurdistan is experiencing severe internal complications due to the relationship with the central government in Baghdad and the recent Turkish military operation in the region in which Ankara planned to eliminate PKK members defined by Turkish authorities as “terrorists”.

  • Oman: regional role, development strategy and media. Report from Muscat

    Located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman has elaborated a strategy to establish balanced relations with regional and international actors, improve social living conditions, attract foreign direct investments (FDIs), and promote its historical identity and traditions.

  • Media, society, and geopolitics in the Middle East: the case of Syria, Yemen, and Iraq

    During the 31st World Congress of IFJ, we discussed with Iraqi, Syrian and Yemenite representatives the situation in their countries, focusing on society, media and the impact of regional and international geopolitics.

  • Opportunities for the tourism industry between Iran and Pakistan

    The neighbouring Iran and Pakistan might expand their cooperation in the tourism industry to create job opportunities and support regional development in a period characterised by huge geopolitical risk in Eurasia.

  • Security, social stability, and the role of the media in contemporary Iraq

    Since 2003, the situation in Iraq has undergone a significant change, and the country has had to face a process of modernisation and democratisation combined with the fight against the various local terrorist organisations, primarily the Islamic State, which have undermined the local stability and represented a threat to the security of the Iraqi people.

  • The Sino-American competition in the Pacific region: the case of the Solomon Islands

    The United States and its allies will watch closer the growing partnership between China and the Solomon Islands monitoring whether Beijing will manage to build a military base in a country that plays a strategic role in the Pacific.

  • Iran and Tajikistan expanded their cooperation in different fields

    Iran and Tajikistan marked a significant step in their bilateral relations after the meeting of the Iranian and Tajik presidents and the signing of 16 cooperation agreements which stressed Tehran’s cultural diplomacy in Central Asia and Dushanbe’s attempt to diversify its foreign partners.

  • Italy intensifies its relations with Uzbekistan and promotes its strategy in Central Asia

    Italy recently discussed further cooperation with Uzbekistan, showing Rome’s attempt to play a more influential role in Central Asia by being engaged in a strategic market where Italian companies might export their know-how and products while the Italian authorities might diversify trade and energy imports.

  • The Russian Federation strengthens the Pacific Fleet

    The Russian Federation outlined a programme to deploy the Pacific submarine flotilla as the Kremlin’s response to the growing geopolitical instability in the Northwest Asia-Pacific region. In this area, the Russian Federation identifies the Sea of Japan and the Korean Peninsula as the main geostrategic areas

  • Joe Biden-ASEAN summit: a U.S. soft power action?

    On May 12th – 13th, 2022, President Biden held a summit in Washington with the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to counter the political-economic expansionism of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • China’s Polar Silk Road and geopolitics of the Arctic zone

    Due to its strategic position and natural resources, China has elaborated a Polar Silk Road to play a leading role in the Arctic zone, attempting to develop joint projects with local actors, especially the Russian Federation, opening a new transit route for its goods.

  • Political tensions and security threats in Tajikistan

    Recent clashes in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, border security problems with Afghanistan and the last Islamic State terrorist attack have underlined the problematic situation that Tajikistan needs to manage to guarantee national stability and security.

  • North Korea-China economic relations and the United Nations sanctions

    The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) expanded its atomic arsenal to defend its territory from possible aggression by the Republic of Korea, assisted by Washington and Tokyo. At the same time, North Korea has also faced complicated situations caused by United Nations sanctions eased by Chinese economic and geostrategic interests in the Korean Peninsula.

  • New Great Britain’s approach to the JCPOA

    In recent weeks, Great Britain has backed the nuclear deal with Iran by changing its previous positions. According to the spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the main reason is the desire to establish economic relations with Iran as soon as possible.

  • Serbia at the crossroads between the Chinese dragon and the Russian bear: new tensions in the Balkans?

    The war in Ukraine provided Serbia with an opportunity to continue and boost the policy, which was already unfolding even before the war, of replacing Russia with China as Serbia’s primary non-Western partner.

  • Ukraine conflict’s impact on cyber landscape and potential threats

    Recent cyber attacks against Italian government websites highlighted the Ukraine conflict’s impact on the cyber landscape and possible future threats to Europe and Russia’s public institutions and private businesses.

  • Islamic State Khurasan Province threatens Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and neighbouring countries

    In the last couple of months, Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) and its local Central Asian militants have been increasing their propaganda output by directly targeting regional countries (especially Uzbekistan), calling for attacks against local governments and jihad in Central Asia.

  • Geopolitics of the Caucasus between Armenian protests and Azerbaijani strategies

    Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict, several frozen conflicts of the post-Soviet space have witnessed new tensions. Two critical events promoted by Azerbaijan sparked protests in Armenia and might prompt a new escalation over Nagorno-Karabakh.

  • The other side of the Yemeni war: UAE and Saudi Arabia soft-hard power games in Socotra

    Recent events in the Gulf underlined that while Saudi Arabia is focusing on the al-Mahrah province on the border with Oman to ease its access to the Indian Ocean, the UAE is getting hold of the essential Yemenite islands, with the most relevant being Socotra.

  • Italy intensifies cultural dialogue with Caspian littoral Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 18 Issue 2 – Recently, representatives of Italy held a series of meetings with colleagues in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, dedicated to the issues of enhancing cultural cooperation, confirming Rome’s interests in Central Asia.

  • The Taliban between state and non-state actors: a double-edged sword

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 18 Issue 2 – The 2021 proclamation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan reveals several straightforward and/or controversial relationships with state and non-state figures at the regional level. This intricate web of relations plays a role in outlining the Taliban regime’s assets and challenges.

  • Russian Federation’s militarisation of the Northwest Asia-Pacific

    In the political-strategic vision of the Russian Federation, the Northwest Asia-Pacific region represents a geo-maritime space of high strategic value for the defence of its national interests

  • The Iranian nuclear deal amplifies divisions in the Middle East

    The Iranian nuclear deal might become the watershed in the Middle Eastern dynamics, leading to regional escalations and divisions and rising the geopolitical risk level.

  • The Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its impact on food and regional security

    Since the beginning of the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, political leaders and experts have been seriously concerned about the situation on the world food market. It is possible that a number of countries in North Africa and the Middle East may face a real threat of famine.

  • Geopolitical scenarios of the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of the Ukrainian crisis

    The Ukrainian crisis, which was supposed to represent the collapse of the Russian economy and its leading role in Eurasia, is having unexpected implications. The sanctions imposed on Moscow’s energy supplies have caused oil prices to rise and created some opportunities for the Persian Gulf countries.

  • Russian-Japanese relations and the Sea of Japan

    Due to the political-military instability in the Korean Peninsula, Moscow and Tokyo have increased their monitoring activities in the Sea of Japan to defend their respective geopolitical and strategic interests.

  • Russia security can not be anti-Russian

    Ukraine conflict and the Russian military operations highlight that international security can only be mutual, based on relevant contractual obligations and tangible actions that create an atmosphere of mutual trust.

  • The Ukraine conflict can boost Iranian energy exports

    The Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions against Russia might highlight the Iranian role in the oil sector in the Eurasian chessboard, especially for the European Union interested in diversifying its energy import and decreasing the Russian grip.

  • Ukraine conflict and the Caspian Sea regional geopolitics

    In the emerging realities of international relations, it seems crucial to develop an understanding of how the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which escalated in 2022, will affect the situation in various regions of Eurasia, for example, in the Caspian region, which after the collapse of the USSR turned into one of the most important and complex geopolitical problems of international relations.

  • Japan in the U.S. Pivot to Asia Policy

    Since the Obama administration took office, the United States has identified Japan as a key ally to contrast the rapid economic and military growth of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • Storia del Caucaso: l’eccidio di Sumgait trentaquattro anni dopo

    Nella storia del Caucaso l’eccidio di Sumgait è un evento che ricopre particolare importanza le cui conseguenze sono ancora visibili nelle relazioni tra Armenia e Azerbaigian e nella narrativa che oppone Yerevan a Baku, in special modo a seguito del conflitto del Nagorno-Karabakh.

  • Potential implications and threats of Jihadist terrorism in the Russia-Ukraine War

    The war between Russia and Ukraine, which has just begun, could also have implications in the sphere of the operations and propaganda of the Salafist-jihadist organisations.

  • P2 2P: from politicisation to polarisation. How populists blame the European Union in the polycrisis

    Today’s European Union is characterised by many crises entwining one another, resulting in politicisation and polarisation around issues and challenges of the EU itself. At the same time, the concept of the EU has progressively become an object of politicisation and polarisation.

  • The Asian coast and its geopolitical influence in the China Dream

    In the geopolitical project presented in 2013 by the Xi Jinping Presidency for the Asia-Pacific region called China Dream, Beijing attributed a high degree of geostrategic importance to the coastline of the Asian mainland.

  • Saudi Arabia supported anti-government militants in Iran

    The trial of Habib Farajollah Chaab, Iranian-Swedish ringleader of Al-Ahwaziah, revealed that Saudi Arabia financially supported the Arab separatist movement, which carried out attacks in Iran and several European countries.

  • The Bering Strait, an area of Russian-US geostrategic interest

    Within the North Pacific Area, the Bering Strait and the area surrounding are for the Russian Federation and the United States a geo-maritime space of vital importance inherent to the defence of their respective geopolitical interests.

  • Chinese interests in Iranian ports

    The opening of the first Chinese consulate in Iran, in the port city of Bandar Abbas, will boost Beijing’s investments on the Iranian coast of the Gulf of Oman. Beijing aims to establish several Chinese companies in the Makran region and connect Iranian ports to its Belt and Road Initiative.

  • Iran-Pakistan Relations: Changing from Tactical to Strategic Ties

    Iran and Pakistan share borders and strategic interests in Eurasia. Both Tehran and Islamabad are interested in strengthening their cooperation in political, economic, social and cultural issues and overcoming their differences to exploit several opportunities, such as the partnership with China and other regional actors.

  • The Geostrategic Role of the Philippines in Supporting U.S. Interests in the Southwest Asia-Pacific Area

    The strategic value attributed by the United States to the archipelago of the Philippines can be traced back to the geopolitical dispute between Washington and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for the control of some geo-maritime areas between the eastern and southern sides of the China Sea.

  • Turkey: origin, evolution and role of TIKA, a fundamental instrument of Ankara’s foreign policy

    The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) plays a key role in promoting Ankara’s influence and presence in strategic regions through socio-cultural, economic and humanitarian projects.

  • Iranian public opinion on Israel and possible future Tehran-Tel Aviv military confrontation

    According to a domestic survey, most Iranians consider the Israeli regime to be a threat whose possible adventurism must be seriously dealt with in case of Israel-Iran military confrontation.

  • How the nuclear talks might influence South Korea-Iran relations

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 15 Issue 5 – Iran and South Korea might improve their economic and financial relations if the Asian country will release frozen Iranian assets after having played a positive role in the recent nuclear talks in Vienna.

  • China in 2022: an economic overview

    Although China’s economic growth has slowed in recent months due to several COVID-19 outbreaks, energy shortages and a regulatory crackdown in some sectors, the overall economic recovery is stable. Annual GDP growth is expected to reach 8% in 2021, down 0.1 from the July forecast.

  • Australia’s Geostrategic Support for the U.S. Pivot to Asia Policy

    Since its geostrategic position and military force and considering Washington’s Pivot to Asia policy, Australia is an essential U.S. ally for Chinese containment within the waters of the South China Sea.

  • Iranian Azeri, the (almost) forgotten minority and their (in)direct impact on Iranian regional policies

    Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 15 Issue 2 – Among the numerous issues that impact Iran-Azerbaijan relations, considering the recent events which have interested the Caucasus region and the Iranian-Azerbaijani dialogue, it is fundamental to analyse the ethnic minority of Azeri who live on the Iranian territory and influence Tehran’s domestic and regional policies.

  • Geopolitical consequences of the political crisis in Kazakhstan

    The recent Kazakh political crisis and the CSTO military intervention in the country marked a new phase in the geopolitics of Central Asia since the Kremlin re-established its grip on the Republic of Kazakhstan after having military and politically supported President Toqayev.

  • At home and in the Continent: Brexit’s Referendum influence of on the European Identity

    Brexit was a capital event in recent European history and among many consequences, helped to bring up an identity as a political issue. Brexit impacted both negatively and positively in terms of European identity.

  • Lebanon-Italy: same problems and a common way out? A comparative proposal between two centralised countries that can benefit from a localistic reform (Part 2)

    The current Lebanese situation does not require an exacerbation of the tension among its components and a revival of additional factors of fear and caution, but rather a search for exits that mitigate tensions and reassure all communities about their existence and their cultural, social, and political specificities.

  • The centrality of the Senkaku Archipelago for geostrategic balances in the East China Sea

    The geostrategic importance that the Japanese Senkaku archipelago has assumed in recent years can be traced back to the geopolitical priorities identified by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States recognisable as the two most militarily equipped countries in the north-west Asia-Pacific area.

  • Lebanon-Italy: same problems and a common way out? A comparative proposal between two centralized countries that can benefit from a localistic reform (Part 1)

    Lebanon and Italy have many common traits and some apparent differences. Both are centralised countries with marked differences between territories; both are experiencing a long-term political-institutional deadlock and wonder how to get out.

  • The geostrategic role of the Kuril Islands in the Russian foreign policy for the Asia-Pacific Northwest area

    For the Russian Federation, since its conquest against the Japanese Empire at the end of World War II, the Kuril Islands have represented an island area of vital geostrategic importance for the defence of its interests in the Asia-Pacific Northwest.

  • Why should the United States and Russia talk to each other?

    A deep crisis on the eastern side of Europe might lead to a new confrontation between the United States (read NATO) and Russia. If the direct war between the two powers seems difficult to happen, the sense of encirclement perceived by the Russians is dangerously pushing Moscow into the arms of Beijing.

  • The Deadliest Enemies: China’s Overseas Military Bases in Central Asia and Uyghur’s Turkestan Islamic Party

    Amid the burgeoning sentimental relationship between Beijing and the resurrected Taliban’s Emirate 2.0, the al Qaeda-affiliated Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) has aggravated its propaganda war against Communist China, hence cleverly concealing its historically faithful jihadi bonds with the Afghan Taliban.

  • The geostrategic importance of the Island of Guam in the U.S. policy of containment of Chinese expansionism in the Asia-Pacific.

    The Island of Guam in the Asia-Pacific region plays a decisive role for the U.S. military and geopolitical strategy in countering Chinese expansion and influence in the area.

  • Uyghur militants in Afghanistan: a possible threat for China

    The presence of Uyghur suicide bombers in the ranks of the Islamic State-Khorasan increases Beijing’s fears about the threat to China’s national security emanating from Afghanistan.

  • Mapping and monitoring terrorist activities in Afghanistan in 2021

    We have monitored terrorist and violent attacks in Afghanistan in 2021 and produced an interactive map to assess which regions are affected mainly by terrorist organisations and analyse how terrorism has evolved or changed since the Taliban’s rise to power.

  • Tajikistan and the European Union discussed an expanded cooperation agreement

    The European Union seeks to increase its economic partnership with Tajikistan to strengthen Brussels’ position in Central Asia and become part of Central Asia’s ‘New Great Game’ after the U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.

  • Geopolitics of the U.S. strategy in Central Asia

    After the US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States is expected to redefine its position in Central Asia to contrast the Kremlin’s Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Iranian regional strategy.

  • Tatarstan’s role in Kyrgyz economic diversification and investments attraction

    The recent official visit of the President of Tatarstan in Bishkek and the forum ‘Tatarstan – Kyrgyzstan’ highlighted the role that Kazan might play in supporting the Russian strategy in the Kyrgyz republic by improving economic cooperation and trade turnover.

  • Russia-Iran entente on Eurasian current issues and dynamics

    The recent telephone talk between Putin and Raisi highlighted Russia-Iran cooperation on geopolitical, security, and economic issues in Eurasia and Moscow-Tehran’s desire to strengthen their partnership and collaboration on Afghanistan, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh.

  • Chinese militarisation of the South China Sea: a geostrategic necessity?

    With the installation of Xi Jinping as head of state in 2012, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has identified the South China Sea as an area of high geopolitical importance for pursuing its geophysical peculiarities of specific political-strategic priorities.

  • CIS meeting and the Russian strategy in Eurasia

    The recent CIS meeting underlined the Kremlin’s strategy to strengthen its influence in Eurasia through military cooperation and diplomacy. In an era characterised by confrontation with the United States and the rise of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Russia confirms its desire to be the principal player in Eurasia.

  • Italy and Kyrgyzstan strengthened their relations

    The recent visit of the Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister to Italy and his meetings with the Italian counterpart highlighted the Italian attempt to become more involved in the Central Asian market and dynamics and Bishkek’s desire to expand its diplomatic and economic relations to diversify its portfolio of partners and decrease the influence of Russia and China in the country.

  • Greece between the hammer and the anvil: geopolitical games in the eastern Aegean

    Since its birth after the 1821 war against the Ottoman Empire, the Modern Greek state has always been linked to the then three major powers: France, the U.K., and Russia, with the U.K. being substituted by the U.S. during the 20th century to contain the Soviet threat. This dependency is still a reality in Greek politics and foreign affairs. Athens remains a bone of contention for those powers fighting for a strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea.

  • Dilemma of Central Asian Jihadists between IS-K and Taliban

    The Taliban’s pragmatic diplomacy and gradual departure from the Jihadi ideology alienate Central Asian jihadists from the Taliban and strengthen its ardent enemy, the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K). Taliban-backed Uyghur jihadists, who exploited shahids (martyr) exclusively against the Chinese authorities in the past, recently carried out a suicide attack against the Shia Hazara minority under Taliban rule.

  • AUCC supports U.S. economic cooperation with Uzbekistan

    Thanks to the support of the American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce, the United States aims at strengthening its economic presence in Uzbekistan, considering the strategic role that Tashkent plays in Central Asian dynamics and transport corridors and Afghan domestic politics.

  • Il confronto militare sino-statunitense per il controllo dell’isola di Taiwan

    L’importanza geostrategica che negli ultimi anni ha assunto l’isola di Taiwan è riconducibile alle priorità geopolitiche definite da Stati Uniti e Repubblica Popolare Cinese (RPC), identificabili come i due Paesi militarmente più attivi nell’area Asia-Pacifico nord-occidentale.

  • Tehran meeting on Afghanistan underlines Iranian regional strategy

    The meeting on Afghanistan organised in Tehran confirms the Iranian desire to have a major role in Afghan and regional dynamics and stressed how several Asian countries are strongly promoting greater regional cooperation that in the future might contrast Western local interests and presence.

  • Chinese military base in Tajikistan: regional implications

    China might expand its military presence in Central Asia by establishing bases in those countries where Beijing has invested financial funds to support the Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, since the U.S. troops withdraw from Kabul, Beijigin aims to control border dynamics with Afghanistan, particularly in Tajikistan, and fill the vacuum left by Western military forces.

  • Indian interests in Tajikistan in the emerging regional dynamics

    Since India seeks to strengthen its position and influence in Central Asia to counter China and Pakistan and Tajikistan needs to diversify its international partners, New Delhi – Dushanbe economic and diplomatic partnership might have a geopolitical effect on regional dynamics.

  • Turkmenistan increases economic and energy cooperation with Russia

    Turkmenistan seeks regional and international partners to strengthen the national economic performance and attract investors in infrastructural projects. Recent meetings between Turkmen and Russian official representatives and companies underline the Kremlin’s strategy to increase its presence in the country and Ashgabat’s necessity to diversify its commercial partners.

  • Geostrategy and military competition in the Korean Peninsula

    The political-strategic priorities of the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the United States had conferred high geostrategic value to the Korean Peninsula in the North-East Pacific Scenario. In this region, since the totalitarian regime of North Korea hardly coexists with a Western-type State of South Korea, military assets play a fundamental role.

  • Pakistan strategy in the Caspian Sea between Iran and Azerbaijan

    Islamabad strategy in the Eurasian geopolitical chessboard aims at strengthening cooperation with Iran and Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea to create a transit corridor that might boost Pakistani import-export and commercial trade in the region. 

  • Geopolitics of UAE investments in Central Asia

    The United Arab Emirates are among the Gulf countries the most active in Central Asia, as demonstrated by the participation of an Emirati business delegation at the International Business Forum Dushanbe-Invest 2021. Abu Dabhi’s investments in Tajikistan highlight Emirati strategy in the country and, generally speaking, in Central Asia to exploit economic opportunities and investment projects to make the UAE a leading foreign actor in the region.

  • Azerbaijan-Iran crisis and Tehran-Yerevan’s new transit route

    The growing tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan (backed by Turkey) might destabilise the Caucasus and create problems for the transit corridors which cross the region. In this context, to counter the Azerbaijani project of the Zangezur transit corridor, Tehran might establish a new transportation route with Armenia.

  • German investments in Uzbek energy sector

    Since the Republic of Uzbekistan aims at becoming the energy epicentre of Central Asia by establishing a series of energy production infrastructure and, consequently, attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country, Germany has shown its interests as confirmed by the recent 1,1 billion euro agreement between German banks and Uzbekneftegaz to expand the capacity of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex.

  • The effect of terrorism in Afghanistan on Russian-Tajik relations

    The recent terrorist attack in Kunduz alarmed Tajikistan and Russia on the stability and security of the Afghan-Tajik borders and the Taliban ability to counter Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan. In this framework, Moscow and Dushanbe are seeking to enhance their cooperation in the security field, confirming the Russian strategy to play a decisive role in Afghanistan and Central Asia.

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