A. Pikulicka-Wilczewska, TD
Freedom of expression remains partial and fragile in Uzbekistan, but a limited recent opening may be impossible to reverse.
Anand Krishnan, The Hindu
Linked to the government plan of supply from multiple sources is the need for a concise recipient prioritisation policy
Ulkar Natiqqizi, EurasiaNet
Experts estimate that reconstruction could take 10 years and tens of billions of dollars.
Daniel DePetris, Washington Examiner
Opponents of President Trump’s decision to draw down troops in Afghanistan to 2,500 by January have used a number of arguments to bolster their case. The most prominent ones have little basis in fact.
A. Occhiuto & A. Dinar, RS
In June 2020, the United States government implemented the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act — a.k.a. Caesar Act — which imposes sweeping sanctions on Syria. These sanctions, which are the harshest that Washington has ever imposed on the Assad regime, target entities or individuals which are involved in any activities within sectors of the Syrian economy that the government dominates, including banking, military, gas, oil, construction, and engineering. To date... Читать дальше...
Eleanor Mears, Politico EU
A mega deal between 15 Asian economies triggers headaches for Brussels.
Baranowski & Prochwicz-Jazowska, GMF
In Poland, there were different reactions to Joe Biden’s victory. The state media and some members of the governing Law and Justice party emphasized that the results were not yet official and showed concern that a Biden administration might be less favorable toward Poland than that of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the opposition and the expert community touted the return of the United States to stronger engagement in NATO and closer relations with the EU... Читать дальше...
Jon Alterman, CSIS
The Middle East is being hit hard by Covid-19 but, up to now, its regimes have not been. Governmental responses to the virus have varied, from draconian to technocratic to laissez-faire, and none sparked a major backlash. Case numbers are now rising sharply, and once again, there is no significant backlash.
Ana Palacio, Project Syndicate
President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the US election has raised hopes that the US is ready to re-engage with the world and the multilateral system. But if the US is to resume its role as the beating heart of the liberal international order, it needs to overcome the domestic divisions that the election confirmed and reinforced.
Samantha Power, Foreign Affairs
Ever since then U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright memorably called the United States “indispensable” more than two decades ago, both Americans and publics abroad have vigorously debated the proposition. Today, as President Donald Trump’s term comes to a close, foreign observers of the United States are more prone to use a different word: “incompetent.”
Michael Shurkin, TNSR
Criticism of French military operations in the Sahel region of Africa raises questions about the French army’s heritage of colonial and counter-insurgency (COIN) operations and its relevance today. The French army is heir to practices and doctrines that originated in 19th-century colonial operations and the Cold War. Common features of French approaches have been a de-emphasis on military operations and the need for a population-centric focus that emphasizes economic... Читать дальше...
Rich Milburn, Strategy Bridge
The United States’ cultural obsession with winning precludes an effective grand strategy. Since 1945, and increasingly since the end of the Cold War, American military and economic dominance has been so great this fixation was unimportant. However, with China’s rise, America no longer has this luxury and needs a bona fide grand strategy. Americans’ distaste for the sporting tie has fostered a national culture whose tendrils have infested foreign policy decision making. Читать дальше...
