J.G. Tokatlian, Worldcrunch
While the U.S.-China rivalry is not yet a repetition of the Cold War, it will have repercussions for Latin American states at a time of acute regional weakness.
C. Ferreira Marques, Bl.
Two unpopular leaders, two powerful backers. Pictures this week of Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko beaming for the cameras, leaning in eagerly to address an impassive Russian president, evoked another pair 4,000 miles away and months earlier. Against a similar background of street unrest, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam found support from China’s President Xi Jinping last year. It’s not a parallel that bodes well for Minsk’s burgeoning opposition.
Elli Pohlkamp, ECFR
Shinzo Abe’s aggressive and successful diplomacy has helped make Japan a pillar of liberal democracy and a beneficiary of the rules-based international order. His successor has vowed to protect these interests.
Geoff Ramsey, RS
After a year and a half of diminishing returns since recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president and imposing crippling oil sanctions, U.S. strategy in Venezuela has reached a crossroads. Policymakers in Washington have two paths before them: they can either continue down the path of “maximum pressure” and saber-rattling, or they can choose a path of pragmatism, supporting more flexible negotiations towards a democratic transition.
Joseph Bosco, Taipei Times
For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), China’s “century of humiliation” is the gift that keeps on giving. Beijing returns again and again to the theme of Western imperialism, oppression and exploitation to keep stoking the embers of grievance and resentment against the West, and especially the US.
Patrick O'Flynn, Spectator
Could Boris do a Harold Wilson? Over the years there has been much speculation about the sudden resignation of Wilson as prime minister less than a year after he had settled, apparently for good, the momentous question of Britain’s future in Europe via the 1975 referendum. Was he forced out by MI5? Had he already got wind of his early-onset Alzheimer’s? Was there some other hidden personal scandal that would have emerged had he not stood down?
David Allen Green, Financial Times
When there is no proper accountability and transparency, government policymaking becomes sloppy
Emma Reynolds, CNN
London (CNN)After successfully tamping down the first surge of infection and death, Europe is now in the middle of a second coronavirus wave as it moves into winter -- raising questions over what went so wrong.
Thomas Trask & Jonathan Ruhe, National Interest
Two initially separate trends are coming together to drastically reshape the region with new opportunities and challenges for the United States.
Samuel Brannen, CSIS
CSIS's Risk and Foresight Group created four plausible, differentiated scenarios to explore the changing geopolitical landscape of 2025-2030, including the potential lasting first- and second-order effects of Covid-19. The scenarios center on the relative power and influence of the United States and China and the interaction between them, along with detailed consideration of
Katrin Elger, Der Spiegel
S. Idiz, Al-Mon
Many analysts believe that Ankara's meddling in the Arab world's affairs has contributed to pushing some of these regimes toward Israel.
Aurelie Jean & Bertran Badre , Project Syndicate
Not only is the COVID-19 pandemic and recession unprecedented in many ways, but so, too, have been the responses by scientific organizations and financial institutions. But, in a climate of deepening public distrust, it is unclear how long these interventions can be sustained.
Tim Fernholz, Quartz
The World Trade Organization ruled today that US tariffs on Chinese imports are illegal under global trade rules.
Andrew Bacevich, Foreign Affairs
Without a radical reorientation, U.S. foreign policy will only continue to wreak havoc in the name of freedom, democracy, and humane values.
Paul Goble, Jamestown Foundation
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka naturally wants to extend his rule as long as possible, while Belarusians protesting in the streets want to bring it to an end as soon as they can. But Moscow, which has more than a little say in the matter (see EDM, September 8, 10), is divided as to whether and when Lukashenka’s departure...
Eva Hartog, Politico EU
By propping up strongman Alexander Lukashenko, the Russian president risks alienating the Belarusian people.
