Posted on Thu, October 31, 2013 at 20:25 pm CET
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A Pax Sinica in the Middle East?

Whatever China wishes to do in the Middle East, Washington will learn after the fact, if ever… Continue reading

Topics: China • Economy • Energy • The Middle East 
Posted on Mon, February 4, 2013 at 02:40 am CET
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How Serious is Erdogan about Joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Instead of the EU?

Erdoğan is not going to initiate a divorce from the EU, but he may very well hope that the Europeans will “relieve” Turkey… Continue reading

Topics: China • Economy • Europe • Kazakhstan • Kyrgyzstan • Russian Federation • Turkey 
Posted on Mon, January 7, 2013 at 21:14 pm CET
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After the Fall: What Do You Do When You Conclude America is (Temporarily or Permanently) Kaput?

The United States has taken a political turn which at least for the next four years will guarantee that it does not play the role of a great power… Continue reading

Topics: China • Diplomacy • Europe • Obamaism • Russian Federation • The Middle East • United States of America 
Posted on Sun, July 29, 2012 at 18:58 pm CEST
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Alger Hiss, The “Loss” of China, and the Obama Administration’s “Blindspot” Toward The Islamist Threat

When Andrew McCarthy drew a parallel between the treatment of State Department official Alger Hiss in the 1940s and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin Weiner today it reminded me of an interesting discovery from my own research… Continue reading

Topics: China • Communism • Leftist-Islamic Alliance • Obamaism • United States of America 
Posted on Fri, July 20, 2012 at 21:56 pm CEST
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Turkey Raises Central Asian Profil through SCO Link

The decision of the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing to designate Turkey a formal dialogue partner of the organization is yet another sign of recognition of Turkey’s growing influence in Central and South Asia… Continue reading

Topics: China • Diplomacy • Economy • NATO • Politics • Russian Federation • Turkey 
Posted on Tue, July 3, 2012 at 21:36 pm CEST
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Assessing Iraq’s Oil Industry

This article provides an overview of Iraq’s oil and gas industry, focusing in particular on its history since 2003 under the Coalition Provisional Authority and the sovereign Iraqi government… Continue reading

Topics: China • Economy • Energy • Iraq • Iraqi Kurdistan • Kurdistan • OPEC • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Fri, June 29, 2012 at 21:07 pm CEST
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In A Few Years China Will Likely Be the Second-Most Important Country for Israel

There is a remarkable amount of interest in China about Israel and Jews… Continue reading

Topics: China • Diplomacy • Economy • Israel • Politics 
Posted on Sat, April 7, 2012 at 11:39 am CEST
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Iran Nuclear Talks: What were the six points Obama sent Khamenei through Erdogan?

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visited Tehran and personally handed Obama’s six-point message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… Continue reading

Topics: China • Diplomacy • Iran • Politics • Russian Federation • Security and Defense • Turkey • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Sat, March 31, 2012 at 09:38 am CEST
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China-Turkey Summit: Economic Enticements Overshadow Differences

The decision of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping to visit Turkey along with Ireland and the United States during his ten-day world tour before becoming president in about a year underscores the importance Turkey holds for China’s leaders… Continue reading

Topics: China • Diplomacy • Economy • Turkey 
Posted on Tue, February 14, 2012 at 20:35 pm CET
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What to Do About Syria

There is a strong case that can be made for doing nothing about the Syrian civil war, but a stronger case can be made for doing something… Continue reading

Topics: Arab Spring • China • Russian Federation • Security and Defense • Syria • Syrian Revolution • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Mon, January 30, 2012 at 15:57 pm CET
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Assad contains Syrian uprising for now, with help of Russia, Iran and Hizballah

Ten months after the Syrian people launched an uprising against its ruler, Bashar Assad has recovered the bulk of his army’s support and his grip on most parts of the country… Continue reading

Topics: Arab League • China • Hezbollah • Iran • Politics • Russian Federation • Security and Defense • Syrian Revolution 
Posted on Tue, January 24, 2012 at 13:16 pm CET
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Gold for Oil: India to Pay Gold instead of Dollars for Iranian Oil

India is the first buyer of Iranian oil to agree to pay for its purchases in gold instead of the US dollar… Continue reading

Topics: China • Economy • Energy • Europe • India • Iran • Politics • Turkey • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Mon, December 19, 2011 at 18:58 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: China’s approach to Iran’s nuclear (weapons) program triggers concerns

China opposes expanded sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program according to leaked wikileaks cables… Continue reading

Topics: China • Iran • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Mon, December 12, 2011 at 16:22 pm CET
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Did Russia Play a Major Role in Iran’s Capture of the US Stealth Drone?

Moscow is deeply involved in helping Iran repel the next and most critical stage of the cyber war… Continue reading

Topics: China • Cyber War • Iran • Israel • Russian Federation • Security and Defense • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Tue, October 11, 2011 at 20:56 pm CEST
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Pakistan and China: Strengthening Ties

As U.S. military operations in Afghanistan drag on, a strengthening relationship between Pakistan and China has emerged as tensions between… Continue reading

Topics: China • Pakistan 
Posted on Fri, September 23, 2011 at 15:37 pm CEST
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The View from Beijing: Growing Chinese Enthusiasm over Turkey

Chinese analysts have been pleasantly surprised by the stupendous growth in their cultural, economic, and political ties with Turkey… Continue reading

Topics: China • Economy • Turkey 
Posted on Sat, March 12, 2011 at 01:50 am CET
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U.S. Head of Intelligence James Clapper Should Be Fired

If the Obama Administration would listen more to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates it might salvage its foreign policy… Continue reading

Topics: China • Iran • Libya • Russian Federation • The Middle East • United States of America 
Posted on Mon, February 14, 2011 at 19:58 pm CET
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Address by PM Netanyahu to the European Friends of Israel Conference in Jerusalem 2011

It’s very good to see all of you, to welcome you in Jerusalem. It is a great city that has great significance for each of your countries and for Europe… Continue reading

Topics: Arab-Israeli Conflict • China • Egypt • Europe • Global Islam • Greece • Islamic Countries • Israel • Israeli–Palestinian Conflict • Jordan • Peace Process • The Middle East 
Posted on Sun, January 30, 2011 at 21:04 pm CET
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Reactions in Iranian Media to Failure of Istanbul Nuclear Talks

Iranian media blamed the West for the failure of the nuclear talks between Iran and G5+1 in Istanbul last weekend. Tehran Emrooz, a daily affiliated with the pragmatic conservative… Continue reading

Topics: Britain • China • Europe • Iran • Russian Federation • Turkey • United States of America 
Posted on Tue, January 4, 2011 at 23:42 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: U.S. Concerns over Transfer of Weapons to Middle East Regimes and Islamist Groups

The US is fighting a constant battle to stem the flow of arms from eastern Europe to terrorist groups and unstable regimes in the Middle East, US embassy cables leaked tonight revealed… Continue reading

Topics: Armenia • Bulgaria • China • Iran • Islamic Countries • Serbia • Sudan • The Middle East • Ukraine • United States of America • War on Terrorism • WikiLeaks • Yemen 
Posted on Tue, December 28, 2010 at 20:50 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: Sudan, Chad and the quest for resolution

A debrief on Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Chad reveals growing moves against Sudan. Chinese officials urge caution on prosecution president Omar al-Bashir, insisting it will only serve to destabilise Sudan… Continue reading

Topics: Chad • China • France • Sudan • United Nations • United States of America • WikiLeaks 
Posted on Mon, December 27, 2010 at 17:28 pm CET
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Geneva Talks Revive Debate Over Recent Years’ Performance of Iran’s Nuclear Negotiators

A commentary article which spoke in favor of the Iranian negotiating team in the nuclear talks held earlier this month in Geneva provoked strong reactions from those close to Iran’s former chief negotiator… Continue reading

Topics: Britain • China • Europe • France • Germany • Iran • Russian Federation • United States of America 
Posted on Sun, December 26, 2010 at 01:55 am CET
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Turkish National Security Policy in 2010 and Beyond

Turkish foreign policy was more visible in 2010 than ever before. If one is optimistic, one can hazard that we will see a “regression toward the mean” in Turkey’s relations with the West. If 2010 was generally a bad year for that relationship, the situation… Continue reading

Topics: China • Europe • Israel • Russian Federation • Turkey • United States of America 
Posted on Sat, December 25, 2010 at 20:35 pm CET
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Taliban Wants to Open Formal Office in Turkey

Taliban leaders want to open a base in a neutral, third country such as an Arab Gulf state, Turkey or Japan before they embark on meaningful peace talks, according to senior figures in the movement… Continue reading

Topics: Afghanistan • China • Pakistan • Taliban • Turkey • United Arab Emirates • War on Terrorism 
Posted on Wed, December 15, 2010 at 14:37 pm CET
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WikiLeaks: Noord-Korea en China Leverden Raketonderdelen Aan Iran

Condoleezza Rice, de toenmalige Amerikaanse minister van buitenlandse zaken, instrueert in dit document van 3 november 2007 de Amerikaanse ambassadeur in China om “tot op het hoogste niveau” aan te dringen op het stoppen van een levering van ballistische… Lees verder

Topics: China • Iran • Nederlands • North Korea • United States of America • WikiLeaks