geopolitics
12articles
Bessent Vows Toughest Iran Sanctions as China and Russia Push Back
Treasury Secretary Bessent pledged the toughest-ever Iran sanctions and called on China to cooperate — analysts warn Beijing and Moscow's ties with Tehran could blunt the campaign.
Taiwan Strait Deterrence: The Case for Statecraft Alongside Force
As military postures harden across the Taiwan Strait, an emerging analysis argues that deterrence geometry alone cannot prevent miscalculation — diplomacy must carry its share.
China Studies Iran's Hormuz Playbook for a Taiwan Contingency
As Iran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz for the third time this week, analysts ask whether China is drawing strategic lessons for Taiwan.
Axis of Aggressors: New Book Warns China, Russia, Iran and North Korea Could Overwhelm US
A new book argues that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have formed a coordinated axis capable of stretching US military and diplomatic resources beyond their limits.
Russia May Be Helping China Prepare for War Over Taiwan, Report Says
The Economist reports Russia may be sharing Ukraine battlefield lessons with China, potentially accelerating Beijing's military preparations for a conflict over Taiwan.
Russia Vows Support for North Korea's Nuclear and Military Buildup, Lavrov Says
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pledged Moscow's backing for North Korea's nuclear and military expansion, deepening a security partnership that has alarmed the US and its allies.
A Divided World Is North Korea's Greatest Asset
Geopolitical fractures between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow have dismantled the UN sanctions architecture that once constrained Pyongyang's nuclear program, handing Kim Jong Un a historic strategic opening.
South Korea, Taiwan Lead $46 Billion Emerging Market Equity Rout
South Korea and Taiwan drove a $46 billion emerging market equity exodus in June, as nuclear threats, Taiwan Strait risk, and dollar strength battered investor confidence.
Oil Eases on Trump's 'Quick End' Pledge as Hormuz Risk Stays Live
Crude softened after Trump reaffirmed he would end the Iran war 'very quickly,' but supertanker traffic, IRGC transit counts and a 'dramatic' Netanyahu call show the physical risk hasn't moved.
Is the US going to war with Iran? An honest assessment
Cable news says yes. The Pentagon says we're being measured. The honest answer is more complicated than either. Three scenarios, the indicators that distinguish them, and the off-ramps that have historically held.
The Strait of Hormuz playbook: what the 1979 parallel actually tells us
Every Iran flare-up gets compared to 1979. The comparison is more useful — and more limited — than most coverage admits. Here's what the historical record actually shows about oil, escalation, and where the off-ramps lie.
Russia and China's Iran posture: real or performative?
Both major powers have benefited from the Iran cycle without committing to either side. Their public statements are loud; their actions are minimal. Here's what each is actually doing — and why the restraint matters more than the rhetoric.