Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Response:
Introduction: The BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) is a 2013 trade route plan aimed at improving China’s connectivity to the rest of the world. The plan seeks to stimulate China’s economy through investing in infrastructure projects including railways, bridges, and airports abroad. This project also strives to connect countries in the Global South and Eastern […]
U.S. Response to the Tigray Conflict in Ethiopia: Key Actions and Implications
Introduction The Tigray War in Ethiopia demonstrates a complex and multifaceted conflict with various historical, political, and regional dimensions. Bordering Eritrea, Tigray is Ethiopia’s northernmost region and is home to an estimated 7 million ethnic Tigrayans. The region was governed by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a leftist and ethnic national political party that […]
Failures and Successes of the BRICS Alliance
Background Officially founded in 2009, BRICS is an informal, multilateral economic alliance between Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The acronym “BRIC” (later adapted to include South Africa) was originally coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in a 2001 paper wherein he highlighted the potential for […]
Understanding US Relations with Switzerland: Key Insights into Trade, Diplomacy, and Strategic Interests.
Introduction Switzerland, known for its neutrality, abstains from military alliances and international conflicts, playing a significant role in global peace and diplomacy. It frequently hosts diplomatic conferences on international humanitarian law. Over time, shared characteristics in their political systems and joint efforts in international organizations have strengthened relations between the United States and Switzerland. Currently, […]
Understanding U.S. Relations with Germany: History, Trade, and Strategic Interests
Introduction Germany is the largest economy in Europe by GDP. Its diplomatic ties with the United States play a significant role in ensuring political stability in Europe and fostering economic development between the two nations. Alongside the United States, the European Union stands as a key supporter of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Currently, […]
Pros and Cons of Implementing Sustainable Fishing Practices
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982, is a comprehensive agreement that defines the laws and regulations for the world’s seas and oceans. UNCLOS exists to ensure that as we move into the future, conversations are being had about our oceans and how to protect them, while still […]
Introduction to US Relations with Estonia
Estonia, a small country at the northern end of the Baltic states, has received increased focus from Western media in light of the deepening divide between the West and Russia in Eastern Europe—exemplified by the war in Ukraine. Estonia, a NATO ally of the United States and member of the European Union, spent the Cold […]
US-Brazil Relations Post-2022 Brazilian Presidential Election
Brazil Before the Election, 2022 Presidential Election Results, & Aftermath From 2019 to 2022, Brazil was led by the popular conservative, President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro publicly questioned Brazilian governmental institutions and drew upon religious and cultural identities in a way that many have criticized as weakening democracy in the country. Brazil’s foreign policy was also […]
Pros and Cons of the Feed the Future Program
Introduction For several decades, the United States has led the global fight to eradicate world hunger. Since the early twentieth century, food aid has served as a component of U.S. foreign policy. From President Truman’s Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe after World War II to President Obama’s Feed the Future program to help developing […]
Global Status of Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weaponry and Testing
Anti-satellite weapons, or ASATs, are a growing topic of international concern in the 21st century. These weapons usually consist of a projectile, launched into space on a missile, for the purpose of destroying a target satellite in low Earth orbit. The kinetic impact of an ASAT projectile into its target satellite can create millions of […]