Articles
July 2013
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15 Jul 2013
As Son Takes Over in Qatar, Little Chance of New Policies
Publisher:
Global Observatory (IPI)
Last month, Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani announced that he would be abdicating his throne to his son. According to Linda Khatib, the country’s enduring strategic interests and the new Sheikh's domestic preoccupations mean that Doha’s foreign policy will not shift significantly. More on «As Son Takes Over in Qatar, Little Chance of New Policies »
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12 Jul 2013
Chad, Once Forgotten by the UN, is Back, Front and Center
Publisher:
Global Observatory (IPI)
The intervention in Mali and several other events have altered the political and strategic landscapes of the Sahel and Sahara regions. According to the IPI's Arthur Boutellis, these changes have now created an opportunity for Chad to emerge as a more powerful regional and international actor. More on «Chad, Once Forgotten by the UN, is Back, Front and Center»
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11 Jul 2013
Energy Cooperation in the South China Sea
Publisher:
International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
Does China covet the disputed energy reserves of the South China Sea? Only for their symbolic value, argues the CSS’s Jonas Grätz. The disputes over ownership and access enable Beijing to whip up nationalist sentiments and to promote its broader geostrategic interests. More on «Energy Cooperation in the South China Sea»
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11 Jul 2013
The Future of US Cyber Command
Publisher:
Atlantic Council
The US military's cyber arms have had many institutional homes over the last 20 years – the latest being US Cyber Command. Today, the Atlantic Council's Jason Healey explores the possible next-step option – breaking Cyber Command away from its unwieldy parent, US Strategic Command. More on «The Future of US Cyber Command»
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10 Jul 2013
US and China: The Fight for Latin America
Publisher:
World Policy Institute
According to Robert Valencia, China is vying for greater economic influence in Latin America, to include possibly constructing and operating an alternative ‘Panama Canal’ through Nicaragua. One unanticipated consequence of this burgeoning US-China rivalry, Valencia observes, is that it might push Latin American countries closer together. More on «US and China: The Fight for Latin America»
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9 Jul 2013
Sectarian Violence Triggers Sunni-Alawi Segregation in Syria
Publisher:
Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)
The internal displacement of noncombatants in the Syrian Civil War has closely paralleled sectarian fault lines, according to IRIN. In their analysis, this increases fears that violent retribution could give rise to "genocide", as the minority Alawite population becomes increasingly isolated. More on «Sectarian Violence Triggers Sunni-Alawi Segregation in Syria»
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8 Jul 2013
Joshua Kurlantzick Talks Indonesian Foreign Policy
Publisher:
International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
Indonesia's foreign policy priorities include strategically balancing in its relationships with China and the US, and also raising its international profile by working through ASEAN. In today's Questions and Answers feature, Josh Kurlantzick discusses Jakarta's current foreign policy agenda and how it might change if Joko Widodo prevails in the 2014 presidential election, as is widely expected. More on «Joshua Kurlantzick Talks Indonesian Foreign Policy»
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8 Jul 2013
Hassan Wirajuda on Indonesia’s Foreign Policy
Publisher:
International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
The outcome of Indonesia's 2014 presidential election will obviously impact the future trajectory of its foreign policy, but Hassan Wirajuda believes that the opposite is also true – i.e., the nation's current foreign policy will also shape the outcome of the elections. In today's podcast, Indonesia's former foreign minister discusses why this is true. More on «Hassan Wirajuda on Indonesia’s Foreign Policy»
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8 Jul 2013
Australia and India: Indo-Pacific Partners
Publisher:
East-West Center (EWC)
The visit of India's Defense Minister to Australia earlier this month was the first of its kind. That's well and good, observes David Brewster, but does it presage a new security partnership between these two states, particularly in the Indian Ocean? Today, he grapples with this question and more. More on «Australia and India: Indo-Pacific Partners»
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5 Jul 2013
A Revolt within the al Qaeda Movement
Publisher:
STRATFOR
The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq recently defied a directive from al Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri to not merge his organization with its Syrian counterparts. According to Stratfor’s Scott Stewart, the message is clear – the concept of global jihad is truly ‘yesterday’s news’. More on «A Revolt within the al Qaeda Movement»