Latest Articles about Diplomacy

To Counter Russian Invasion, Kyiv Seeking to Expand Influence in Africa
Executive Summary: Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has been working to counter Russian influence in Africa and expand its own by doubling its embassies on the continent and increasing aid. Most African countries remain neutral because Ukraine is a major grain supplier.... MORE

China and Russia Expand Cooperation on Arctic Transit Infrastructure
Executive Summary: The Arctic Express route was launched in July as part of the joint Russian-Chinese development of the “Ice Silk Road,” which aims to develop the shortest route from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic via the Arctic. China increasingly sees strategic benefit in... MORE

Baku Turning Away From West Toward Moscow and Tehran, at Least for Now
Executive Summary: Baku is currently turning away from the West toward Russia and Iran, angry at Western countries for their support of Armenia and criticism of human rights issues in Azerbaijan, and hopeful that Moscow and Tehran will help achieve its geo-economic and geopolitical goals.... MORE

Turkish Journalists are Now ‘Telling the Xinjiang Story Well’ for Beijing
Executive Summary: Türkiye could be a key player in the People's Republic of China's (PRC) strategy of coopting foreign journalists in order to create a more favorable image of its policies in Xinjiang. Türkiye’s participation in PRC state-backed tours for journalists, along with recent economic... MORE

Hong Kong’s New Strategic Role After the Third Plenum
Executive Summary: Key officials visited the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in late August to explain the city’s political, economic, cultural, and security responsibilities. They signaled deeper integration with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) mainland while leveraging its unique international position. Hong Kong... MORE

The US-Ukraine Security Agreement: Wartime and Postwar
Executive Summary: The US-Ukraine security agreement anticipates crisis responses in the event of another Russian aggression, building the “Ukrainian future force” during the war and after, as well as future security requirements in the Black Sea. US-Ukraine joint crisis response would cover both a repeat... MORE

The US-Ukraine Security Agreement: Indispensable but Irresolute
Executive Summary: The US-Ukraine security agreement is the most comprehensive among recent bilateral agreements with Kyiv. Like the others, however, it is not legally binding but rather a statement of intentions or a memorandum of understanding. The agreement conveys uncertainty regarding Washington’s resolve to fully... MORE

Moscow Capitalizes on Wins From Recent Prisoner Swap
Executive Summary: The largest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War occurred on August 1 in Ankara and seemed to work in Moscow’s favor based on those prisoners swapped. The uneven status of those swapped confirmed the effectiveness of Moscow’s strategy... MORE

Putin Says Moscow to Exploit New Oil Field in Antarctic, Undermining Key Treaty
Executive Summary: In the spring, Russia reported the discovery of an enormous new oil field in Antarctica. Moscow told Western governments it had no plans to develop the field, even as Western observers warned that exploitation of the new deposits could threaten the Antarctic treaty... MORE

NATO States Undertake Security Commitments to Kyiv Under Ukraine Compact (Part Two)
(Part One) Executive Summary: The security agreements under the Ukraine Compact, announced at the recent NATO summit, look considerably weaker and self-deterring when compared with the original blueprint of the 2022 Kyiv Security Compact. The chief merit common to both is the exclusion of Russia... MORE