Trump Exits Somalia

Trump Exits Somalia

These are things that might have been done earlier.  During the last, flickering days of the Trump administration, activity is being witnessed across countries which have a US troop presence.  Numbers are being reduced.  Security wonks are getting the jitters.  Is the imperium shrinking?  Will President elect Joe Biden wake up and reverse the trend? …

Unrest in the Horn of Africa

Unrest in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa itself is of significant interest to many countries that consider themselves a geopolitical entity, since its geographical location allows it to control the connection between the Red Sea (and therefore the Suez Canal) and the Indian Ocean, where a large flow of ships passes. Djibouti hosts French, Italian, American and even…

Geopolitics Shadow Ethiopia War

Geopolitics Shadow Ethiopia War

The news that Russia is to build a naval base adjacent to the Red Sea underscores the geopolitical background to the recent escalation of conflict in Ethiopia. The Horn of Africa with its intersection of trade routes is the subject of intense geopolitical contest. China and more recently Russia are offering economic partnership for development,…

The Geopolitical Impact of the ‘Israeli’-Emirati Alliance Will be Felt in Africa

The Geopolitical Impact of the ‘Israeli’-Emirati Alliance Will be Felt in Africa

The misleadingly described “peace” deal between “Israel” and the UAE will enable the self-professed “Jewish State” to use the latter’s military and civilian port infrastructure in the Gulf of Aden, thus challenging recent Turkish inroads in this part of the world and allowing Tel Aviv to project itself as a trans-regional power of significance, especially…

Who’s Right And Who’s Wrong In The Kenyan-Somalian Maritime Dispute?

Who’s Right And Who’s Wrong In The Kenyan-Somalian Maritime Dispute?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing Kenya and Somalia’s cases pertaining to their ongoing maritime dispute from 9-13 September, and it’s worthwhile contemplating which side is right. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the international agreement that practically all of the world abides by for determining maritime…

Trump Draws Down in Syria, Afghanistan, the Empire Escalates in Somalia

Trump Draws Down in Syria, Afghanistan, the Empire Escalates in Somalia

While the Trump administration has very visibly made and modified plans to reduce U.S. military intervention in Syria and Afghanistan, it has quietly escalated the fight in Somalia. U.S. airstrikes in the North African nation are on the rise, The New York Times reported Sunday, and that higher pace of bombardment has contributed to increased civilian displacement…