Geopolitics Archives

Five Years After the Withdrawal of U.S. Troops, Taliban Maintain Brutal Control of Afghanistan

6Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Human rights, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Five Years After the Withdrawal of U.S. Troops, Taliban Maintain Brutal Control of Afghanistan

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi invited U.S. officials to make deals on critical minerals. September 6, 2026—Five years after the dramatic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the repressive Taliban regime remains in control, even as it is still unrecognized by a majority of countries. Nearly half the population is dependent on humanitarian aid. Humanitarian Action calculates that is 21.9 million. Also, more than 5 million Afghans who lived in neighboring countries have been forced to return. What's more, Afghanistan and Pakistan are at war. The Aftermath of the U.S. Withdrawal The United States spent 20 years fighting in Afghanistan, often asserting a strategy of nation-building while the underlying strategic goals went undefined. Scores of civilians were killed...

China’s Xi Strengthens Ties With Middle East on Egypt Trip

3Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

China’s Xi Strengthens Ties With Middle East on Egypt Trip

Xi Calls for New Middle East Regional ‘Security Architecture’ Cairo welcomed Xi with streets decorated with Chinese flags, a joint-military training exercise, a red-carpet welcoming ceremony, and a 21-gun salute. September 3, 2026—For the first time in four years, Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in the Middle East, touching down in Cairo, Egypt, for diplomatic talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Cairo welcomed Xi with streets decorated with Chinese flags, a joint military training exercise, a red-carpet welcoming ceremony, and a 21-gun salute. The two leaders signed several agreements, including five major agreements and 20 strategic cooperation documents. Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly hailed the visit as an “historic” event that “coincides wit...

US and Armenia Advance Bilateral Relations and Eurasian Trade Route

26May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

US and Armenia Advance Bilateral Relations and Eurasian Trade Route

What Is the TRIPP Corridor? And Why It Matters to Geopolitics File photo. Source: State Dept. January 2026 May 26, 2026—The foreign ministers of the United States and Armenia signed a strategic agreement on Tuesday that advances a Eurasian trade route between Asia and Europe that allows some trade to bypasses Russia and Iran. The “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” is a 27-mile transport corridor running through Armenia and Azerbaijan that links up to the much larger Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also called the “Middle Corridor.” “This agreement marks the biggest step to date on making this historic route a reality, on advancing peace, and on increasing prosperity in Armenia and frankly on the region,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the ...

In a Sign of Geopolitical Realignment, U.K. to Host 35-Nation Meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

1Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

In a Sign of Geopolitical Realignment, U.K. to Host 35-Nation Meeting on the Strait of Hormuz

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discusses new alliance-building on April 1, 2026. April 1, 2026—In another sign of strained relations between the United States and its partners and allies, a 35-member meeting taking place Thursday in the United Kingdom will take place without U.S. participation. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced today he is convening a meeting restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict. The meeting comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the NATO alliance. It also comes as G7 foreign ministers condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure and a reopening of global trade routes. Who’s Attending the London Coalition? At least 35 countries are scheduled to attend the meeting. Many of them signed onto a ...

G7 Calls for ‘Immediate Cessation of Attacks on Civilians’ and Infrastructure

27Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

G7 Calls for ‘Immediate Cessation of Attacks on Civilians’ and Infrastructure

War, Trade Through Strait of Hormuz Key Topics in G7 Foreign Minister Meetings in France March 27, 2026—G7 Foreign ministers of G7 countries— Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—along with the European Union met in France today discussing, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, maritime and port security, critical minerals supply chains, and counter-narcotics strategies. In the wake of the expanding U.S.-Israel-Iran war, foreign ministers discussed critical issues facing the global economy. G7 France March 27 2026 The ministers released the following statement urging freedom of navigation and an end to assaults on civilians and critical infrastructure. “We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, th...

U.S. Allies and China Respond to US Request for Help with the Strait of Hormuz

17Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Allies and China Respond to US Request for Help with the Strait of Hormuz

Strait of Hormuz. Photo pulled from Vessel Finder March 17, 2026 March 17, 2026—As the US-Israel-Iran war impacted oil markets and a key shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump called on other countries for help. Here's what they had to say. Near Closure The narrow strait, which runs between Iran and the United Arab Emirates and Oman, reflected “a highly constrained operating environment, with vessel movements remaining selective and below average,” Marine Traffic reported on Monday. Geopolitics kept the strait nearly closed on Monday. Many ships remained anchored in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Reports indicated a continued uneven pattern of traffic, with ongoing attacks against some ships, while “sanctioned and shadow-fleet vessels supporting a...

US, Israel’s Illegal ‘War of Choice’ Against Iran

3Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

US, Israel’s Illegal ‘War of Choice’ Against Iran

March 3, 2026—In violation of international law, the United States and Israel started a war against Iran in the early hours of Saturday, February 28. The strikes targeted the compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killing him and members of his family, air defense capabilities, missile sites, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and an elementary school for girls. The Pentagon calls the attack, “Operation Epic Fury." Iran responded with missiles and drones targeting U.S. bases, Israel, and strategic sites throughout the region. Across the media spectrum, editorial boards, observers and others have called the actions by the United States and Israel as “a war of choice.” Death Toll To date as of March 3, the death toll includes at least 787 people in I...

India Proposes Shared Digital Currency for BRICS

1Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Types of News: Analysis

India Proposes Shared Digital Currency for BRICS

Will BRICS Emerge as a Geopolitical Bigwig in 2026? India is hosting the BRICS bloc this year. February 1, 2026—BRICS, an informal international organization of emerging market nations, lost some clout last year amid internal growing pains, external threats of tariffs from the world’s largest economy, and a dead-end attempt to offer an alternative to the U.S. dollar. Will this year be any different? The bloc includes major political players, such as its founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Last year, its membership grew to ten. The economic and geopolitical bloc now includes: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. If members unify around common objectives, BRICS could reemerge this year as a geopolitical player. How...

Gold Continued to Climb Amid Geopolitical Instability

23Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Geopolitics, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Gold Continued to Climb Amid Geopolitical Instability

Gold is traditionally an asset of last resort. Photo by Peter Olexa. January 23, 2026—There was one clear winner amid the geopolitical tensions rocked by the U.S. encroachment into allies’ domains: Gold. The price of the precious metal climbed by 8 percent this week, from $4,600 a troy to $5,000. It was its biggest single week since the global financial crisis in 2008. It is notable because it could foreshadow economic instability and inflationary pressures for the average consumer. It could also indicate a weakening position of the United States. Asset of Last Resort Gold is traditionally an asset of last resort. Countries started moving off the gold standard in the 1930s to manage the Great Depression. The United States officially severed the link between the U.S. dollar and ...

Trump Wages a Trade War Against NATO Allies over Greenland

18Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Geopolitics, Global Trade, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Wages a Trade War Against NATO Allies over Greenland

US-EU Tariffs to Impact Transatlantic Relations January, 18, 2026—When U.S. President Donald Trump started talking about taking over Greenland on the 2024 campaign trail, his Republican colleagues and most of America did not take him seriously. Political allies like House Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and others dismissed it as campaign rhetoric and declined to answer questions about it even as Trump carried on with the rhetoric from the White House. But Trump was clear as early as December 2024 when he announced his nomination of PayPal funder Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark “that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” As early as January 2025, he talked about the possibility of using the U.S. military or economic coercion to seize the territory. ...