Imagine a bustling market square, vibrant and full of life, where diverse voices come together to shape the community’s future. This square represents ASEAN, a coalition of ten nations rich in potential yet often constrained by the weight of dynastic politics. Just as some European democracies have successfully navigated similar challenges—think of countries like Germany…
To understand, why the Pacific Ocean is centre of geopolitical gravity in the 21st century, we’ll have to take a holistic look at how things evolved in the past and how they impacted the seas, the oceans and broader littoral geographies. Let us delve into the detail of it. The invention of the wheel around…
In recent years, the Indo-Pacific region has become a focal point of global geopolitical competition, with several nations competing for control over its vital waterways and resources. As China’s influence in the region expands, territorial disputes in the South China Sea have escalated, bringing China into conflict with neighboring countries. In response, the United States,…
The U.S.-Philippines relationship, spanning over a century, remains a cornerstone of both countries’ strategic and economic interests in Southeast Asia. The alliance, rooted in historical ties dating back to the American colonization of the Philippines in 1898, has evolved through different geopolitical eras, from the Cold War to the rise of China. Under former President…
The post-World War II international order is unraveling as conflicts emerge across the globe. We are witnessing the rapid formation of a multipolar world, characterized by power struggles and geopolitical realignments. One of the most volatile flashpoints in this new global landscape is the South China Sea, a vital maritime corridor fraught with escalating tensions…
The United States has announced a major overhaul of its military command in Japan to deepen coordination with Japanese forces amid growing security challenges posed by China. The revamp was revealed following security talks in Tokyo between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and their Japanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Yoko…
“The Study of History lies at the foundation of all sound Military Conclusion & practice” (Alfred Thayer Mahan) Alfred Thayer Mahan, a U.S. naval officer and historian, was hailed by John Keegan as “the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century.” His seminal work, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, garnered immediate…
In 2012, the United Nations recognized Benham Rise, located off the east coast of the Philippines, as part of the country’s extended continental shelf. This recognition was uncontested by China. Fast forward to today, the Philippines has submitted a new claim to the United Nations for an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China…
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, represents China’s ambitious effort to connect East Asia and Europe through extensive infrastructure projects spanning roads, railways, and ports, with extensions into Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. This initiative, often dubbed the New Silk Road, involves over 140 countries, encompassing about 75%…
On June 9, 2024, the 50-year-old petrodollar agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States quietly expired. For half a century, this pact had ensured that oil sales were conducted exclusively in US dollars, bolstering the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency and cementing its dominance in global trade. The potential end of this…
