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 17, 2012 at 17:40 pm CEST
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Trans-Anatolian Pipeline: A Geopolitical Achievement, but no Panacea for Turkey’s Energy Independence

The realization of the Trans-Anatolian Project by 2018 will strengthen Azerbaijan in strategic terms, offering it a route to the world markets that bypasses Russia… Continue reading

Topics: Azerbaijan • Economy • Energy • 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 Sat, February 18, 2012 at 20:58 pm CET
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Rethinking U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan

As U.S. military operations in Afghanistan drag on inconclusively, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Taliban insurgency is gaining ground… Continue reading

Topics: Afghanistan • Al-Qaeda • Islamic Terrorism • NATO • Security and Defense • Taliban • U.S. Middle East Policy • War on Terrorism 
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 Fri, December 16, 2011 at 17:25 pm CET
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U.S. Policy and Iran: Why Obama’s Bargain has Failed

This notion of choice is the basis for Obama Administration policy toward Iran… Continue reading

Topics: Diplomacy • Iran • Politics • Security and Defense • U.S. Middle East Policy 
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 Wed, November 16, 2011 at 16:52 pm CET
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Syrian army deserters hit intel facility near Damascus

The Assad regime suffered a major shock when self-styled “Free Syrian Army” deserters firing shoulder-borne rockets and… Continue reading

Topics: Arab League • Arab Spring • GCC • Iran • Jordan • Syrian Revolution • Turkey 
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 Thu, July 14, 2011 at 00:33 am CEST
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Turkey Faces Difficult Challenges in a Volatile Foreign Policy Environment

Foreign and defense policies did not figure prominently in the recent general election in Turkey… Continue reading

Topics: Iran • Kurdish People • NATO • Russian Federation • Syria • Turkey 
Posted on Thu, June 30, 2011 at 22:55 pm CEST
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Another ticking bomb under Assad: Hariri “Special Tribunal for Lebanon” heads for Damascus

The Lebanese capital was not the only first stop for a delegation of the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon… Continue reading

Topics: Hezbollah • International Law • Lebanon • Religious Terrorism • Syria • United Nations 
Posted on Sun, June 19, 2011 at 11:05 am CEST
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Syria: Dissidents Unite to Oust Assad

Twenty years ago, I was a school kid chanting with my peers, “Our leader forever, the father, Hafez Assad!” Back then, I could not have imagined… Continue reading

Topics: Arab Spring • Democracy • Syrian Revolution 
Posted on Thu, June 9, 2011 at 01:00 am CEST
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Whither Turkey-U.S. Arms Sales?

Turkey’s recent decision to spend billions of dollars buying U.S.-made helicopters underscores the continuing significance of… Continue reading

Topics: Europe • NATO • Turkey • U.S. Middle East Policy 
Posted on Sat, June 4, 2011 at 16:44 pm CEST
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WikiLeaks: Nederland Weigerde Verkoop van F-16’s aan Pakistan

Tijdens het Kabinet-Balkenende II (2003 — 2006) heeft Nederland geweigerd om medewerking te verlenen aan een Amerikaans plan… Lees verder

Topics: Belgium • Nederlands • Netherlands • Pakistan • U.S. Middle East Policy • WikiLeaks