Russia uses gold and Chinese networks to bypass Western sanctions and sustain its war economy.
Browsing: Economy
A GCC common currency fails due to political rivalries and sovereignty concerns, not economic incompatibility, halting deeper integration.
Al-Sudani is using major oil deals with U.S. firms as a shield against potential sanctions and a tool to lobby Washington. His administrative effectiveness has fast-tracked deals, but his political survival post-election is uncertain, risking a return to bureaucratic gridlock.
The tariff reduction is a critical confidence-building measure for the strained relationship. While exact terms are pending, it should stabilize bilateral trade and allow negotiations to address deeper issues like digital trade and intellectual property in future phases.
The agreement reflects a strategic pivot: Europe seeks growth and diversification, while India gains leverage against US tariffs and reinforces its non-aligned economic diplomacy. It signals a shift toward middle-power alliances reducing reliance on traditional superpowers.
Despite entrepreneurial interest, women face critical constraints like receiving only 1% of regional venture capital. Policy must address this with financial inclusion, data-center integration for startups, and regulations that support scaling female-led SMEs.
The article critiques Trump’s inconsistent China trade policy, highlighting how rash tariffs backfired when China threatened rare earth exports. This chaotic approach lacks the strategic leverage needed to address China’s manufacturing overcapacity.
The Taliban seeks to position Afghanistan as a transit hub linking South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Projects like the Herat–Mazar-i-Sharif railway aim to attract investment and lessen Kabul’s vulnerability to Pakistani political and economic pressure.
Tariffs have lowered oil prices and slowed U.S. shale growth, benefiting OPEC+ market strategy. Middle Eastern renewable projects gain from cheap Chinese equipment, but economic uncertainty and potential dollar shifts pose long‑term challenges for the region’s macroeconomic stability.
The Gulf’s AI strategy focuses on hosting data centers, not innovation. Using cheap energy, they export fossil fuels embedded in digital services. This builds new leverage, merging control over hydrocarbons and computing infrastructure, which could reshape their role in climate negotiations.