Thursday, October 8

Geopolitics

Geopolitics refers to international relations and power politics as they are influenced by geography, history, and alliances.

Trade in Plastic Waste is Coming to A Halt, in Part
28May By Patti MohrNo Comments
Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Types of News: Brief

Trade in Plastic Waste is Coming to A Halt, in Part

May 28, 2019--Amid a decline in trade of plastic waste, Malaysia announced it would return 3,000 tons of plastic trash to exporting countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States and Saudi Arabia. "Malaysia won’t continue to be a dumping ground for the developed nations and those responsible for destroying our ecosystem with these illegal activities are traitors," Malaysia Environmental Minister Yeo Bee Yin, told reporters on Tuesday, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. "We will fight back. Even though we are a small country, we will not be bullied." The problem, the Malaysian ministry said, is that countries are shipping low-quality plastics that cannot be recycled -- a move that is against the country's laws. “Garbage is traded under t...
Read More
New U.S. Sanctions Against Iran Go Into Effect
5Nov By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Trade, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

New U.S. Sanctions Against Iran Go Into Effect

Nov. 5, 2018--Six months after pulling out of the six-party nuclear deal, the United States has launched new sanctions against Iran, impacting its banks, shipping industry, businesses and individuals. The sanctions block assets and transactions on over 900 targets, many of them newly named. "They'll be the toughest sanctions ever placed against the Islamic Republic of Iran," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday in an interview with CBS News. The sanctions mean that companies doing business with both the U.S. and Iranian firms will have to make a choice: Pick a side. You cannot do business with both countries. According to Pompeo, some business leaders quit conducting business in Iran based on the U.S. decision to withdraw from the six-party nuclear deal. "European co...
Read More
U.S. Firms Sold Saudi Arabia $139 Billion of Weapons in Last 10 Years
31Oct By Patti MohrNo Comments
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Geopolitics, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Firms Sold Saudi Arabia $139 Billion of Weapons in Last 10 Years

October 31, 2018-U.S. defense companies sold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia nearly $139 billion of military equipment and defense services over the last 10 years. That's more than the $110 billion in sales projected for the next 10 years. International arms sales to the kingdom are coming under greater scrutiny in the aftermath of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabian officials in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 2. Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging member states to ban arm sales to Saudi Arabia. Some U.S. lawmakers, like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., are urging colleagues to to do same. Ongoing Arms Sales The highest grossing year of sales to the Saudi military for U.S. defense companies was 2010 with $60.9 billion of sales. Sales include Chinook, Apache ...
Read More
U.S. Oil Production Surges as OPEC, Russia Plan Reductions
28Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Oil Production Surges as OPEC, Russia Plan Reductions

February 28, 2018--U.S. oil production rose to its highest level since 1970 last November, as the U.S. shale oil production continued to boom. The historic increase contrasted sharply with OPEC and Russian oil production, which is holding steady but expected to decease output to increase prices. U.S. production peaked at 10.057 million barrels a day in November and is expected to average 10.6 million barrels a day in 2018, according to a monthly review by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That's roughly on par with oil production in Saudi Arabia and Russia. It is noteworthy considering that other oil-producing countries are planning reductions to try to boost prices. According to The Economist, Saudi Arabia needs oil prices to reach $70-80 a barrel to maintain a steady e...
Read More
China Outlines Goals for Arctic Trade Route & Development
29Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Foreign Aid, International Development, Global Trade, Types of News: Brief

China Outlines Goals for Arctic Trade Route & Development

As global warming melts thick ice in the Arctic, countries are increasingly staking out economic claims in the region. China is no exception. This month, China outlined its vision for creating a new trade route through the region and for developing its resources. In a new 12-page White Paper, China called itself as an "important stakeholder" in the region. As Near-Arctic State and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China "shoulders the important mission of jointly promoting peace and security in the Arctic," the paper said. It is a significant policy statement on navigating the delicate environmental and diplomatic interests in the Arctic waters. As the ice melts in the region, the potential for international disputes over shipping and natural resources rises. Governi...
Read More
Iran Protests Spark Bigger Diplomatic Conflicts
4Jan By Patti MohrNo Comments
Geopolitics, Middle East, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

Iran Protests Spark Bigger Diplomatic Conflicts

January 4, 2018 - In the aftermath of the multinational fight against ISIS-Daesh forces who had held large parts of Iraq and Syria, geopolitical divides are emerging as regional powers turn their focus to economic issues, sanctions and security alliances. One sign of the shift is the near week-long demonstrations in Iran, which started Dec. 28 near Iran's border with Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. The protests started in Mashhad, Iran's second most populous city, and quickly spread to other parts of the country. They are the largest mass demonstrations the country has seen since 2009 when protesters in Tehran disputed the presidential election. Most media outlets reporting on the recent unrest say the government has not used violence to tamp down on the protests as it did in 2009. The gove...
Read More
Foreign Policy: Disagreements on Dealing with Iran
6Mar By Patti MohrNo Comments
Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Global Trade, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

Foreign Policy: Disagreements on Dealing with Iran

In a bold and unprecedented act, the Republican-led Congress hosted an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he urged Washington to back away from talks with Iran on nuclear proliferation and keep sanctions in place. The speech by the Israeli Prime Minister was unprecedented because it used the institution of the U.S. Congress to undermine diplomatic negotiations of the White House. The United States is one of six countries—the other five countries are China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom—negotiating with Iran to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions. The talks face a checkpoint deadline at the end of this month. Although some diplomats have expressed progress in the effort to halt Iran's nuclear weapons program, Netany...
Read More
Eurozone Economics
20Feb By Patti MohrNo Comments
Geopolitics

Eurozone Economics

"To explain to people that we have to give money to Greece for their salaries and pensions? Impossible." --Fico, explaining why Slovakia and other European countries should not have to forgive or pay for debt owed by Greece (FT, Feb. 20, 2015)
Read More