Vladimir Putin Takes Spotlight as Eurasia Connector

Vladimir Putin Takes Spotlight as Eurasia Connector

At his trademark annual year-end press conference in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin once again let drop selected foreign-policy nuggets essential to understanding what lies ahead on the turbulent Eurasian geopolitical chessboard. By now it’s well known that Putin will run again in the presidential elections scheduled for March 18 (“it will be self-nomination” and…

Jerusalem in My Heart

Jerusalem in My Heart

Jerusalem is first of all a symbol, and a potent one; the American recognition of Jewish sovereignty over the Holy City is a sign of the final Jewish victory over Christianity, and it is to be deeply regretted. Richard Coeur de Lion and Tancred would not understand this surrender of the city they fought for,…

Mohammed Bin Salman’s Ill-Advised Ventures Have Weakened Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Bin Salman’s Ill-Advised Ventures Have Weakened Saudi Arabia

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) of Saudi Arabia is the undoubted Middle East man of the year, but his great impact stems more from his failures than his successes. He is accused of being Machiavellian in clearing his way to the throne by the elimination of opponents inside and outside the royal family. But,…

Jerusalem – The Straw that Breaks the Empire’s Back?

Jerusalem – The Straw that Breaks the Empire’s Back?

When President Trump on 6 December 2017 declared unilaterally Jerusalem as the capital of Israel to where the US Embassy shall relocate, he violated UN Resolutions, international law, common sense and went against all diplomatic efforts to eventually bring peace to the region, not to speak about 130 countries that have already voiced opposition to…

How Washington Lost Its Status as an Arab-Israeli Mediator

How Washington Lost Its Status as an Arab-Israeli Mediator

Much has been made of the immediate ramifications of President Trump’s Wednesday announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and initiating the relocation of the U.S. Embassy: namely, the specter of Palestinian violence in Israel and the occupied territories and implications for a future two-state solution. Yet, perhaps the most underappreciated impact will be on the…

Why Does Russia Want to Sell Arms to the Central African Republic?

Why Does Russia Want to Sell Arms to the Central African Republic?

Russia’s “military diplomacy” in the war-torn Central African Republic is designed to stabilize part of Africa’s “Failed State Belt” and set the stage for Moscow to eventually move its peacemaking efforts to the continent’s next cauldron of chaos in the neighboring Congo, all with the intent of reasserting its historic Great Power role in Africa…