Latest Articles about Economics
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Russia-Africa-summit-2023-640x420.jpg)
Hollow Words and Apparent Setbacks at the Russia-Africa Summit
Concerted diplomatic efforts were invested during preparations for the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, formally held on July 27 and 28, and President Vladimir Putin was grandstanding, networking and entertaining his guests non-stop from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday evening. His main intention was to demonstrate... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1510089041_0_160_3071_1887_1280x0_80_0_0_430b3167107afc0c935035fc41ba17a8.jpg-640x360.webp)
Ukrainian Trade Blockade: Foretaste of Russian Hegemony in the Black Sea (Part One)
On July 17, Russia unilaterally suspended the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (“grain deal”), the year-old arrangement that has allowed Ukraine to export grain—albeit under Russian-imposed conditions—from the three ports in and near Odesa. The Kremlin and its navy had (until now) only... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Xi-Jinping-640x471.png)
Xi Shifts Blame as Chinese Economy Continues to Falter
Introduction In December of last year, China’s central government lifted its stringent “zero-COVID” restrictions, signaling to the public it shifted its principal policy objective from pandemic prevention measures to jump-starting China’s flagging economy (Japan Times, April 16). In the first quarter of 2023, the country... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Indonesia-Confiscated-Boats-640x423.png)
Illegal Fishing in Southeast Asia: Scope, Dimensions, Impacts, and Multilateral Response
Introduction Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF) has surfaced as an increasingly salient offshore threat in Southeast Asia that is leading to huge losses in government revenue, adversely impacting food security, contributing to widespread environmental damage, destabilizing inter-state relations, and spurring other transnational crimes. It... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NATO-ships-in-Black-Sea-July-2023-640x427.jpg)
NATO’s 2023 Summit: Modest Expectations, Modest Results (Part Three)
*Read Part One. *Read Part Two. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has conclusively won the Baltic Sea; however, it risks losing the Black Sea in terms of naval posturing and discretionary air access. NATO’s summit, on July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, marked the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/President-of-Russia-640x395.jpeg)
Is Chechnya’s Strongman Poised to Capitalize on Prigozhin’s Downfall?
Reading into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions in the aftermath of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny is comparable to entering a baffling alternate universe where messages are sent with symbols, cues and nonverbal communication (Medialeaks.ru; T.me/strelkovii, June 29). Take, for example, the Russian president’s first post-coup visit, which... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Khaama-Press-640x446.jpeg)
Revitalization of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor: From Afghanistan to Europe
During a regional conference held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in May 2023, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov underscored the paramount importance of the Lapis Lazuli international transit corridor. He emphasized how further development of this landmark project would revolutionize the regional transportation system, propelling it to new heights... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Euromaidan-Press-640x427.webp)
Allies Set to Consider Ukrainian Membership in Vilnius
According to recent survey data, over 80 percent of Ukrainians living in Ukraine and throughout Europe support their country joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (Ukrainska Pravda, July 10). On July 11 and 12, the annual NATO summit will take place in Vilnius, where... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Moscow-Times-1-640x360.jpeg)
A Vilnius Boost for the Ukrainian Offensive
The summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11 and 12 will likely not produce any sensational joint decisions; it is set, nevertheless, to signify a major step in reconfiguring and reinforcing the European security system. Russia’s aggression against... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Picture1-640x390.jpg)
Cash-for-Metaverse: How China’s Digital RMB and Metaverse Strategy Could Circumvent Sanctions
Introduction On February 27, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China released its Digital China Plan (数字中国建设整体布局规划), outlining China’s latest strategy for its “digital economy” (The State Council of the People’s Republic of China, February 27). The Plan highlights the PRC’s ambitions for... MORE