What are the parallels between the U.S. troop drawdowns in Afghanistan and Vietnam? Everyone, it seems, chooses their own reference point when discussing history or events that may prove to be “historical.” Washington is obsessing over the comparisons with what happened in Vietnam in 1975, but it could be argued that, at least from a policy point […]
The United States and NATO forces are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by August 31, almost exactly 20 years since the Al Qaeda attacks on the US. This was a campaign promise made by President Joe Biden, and the decision has been made clear to the top US military officials. Has Biden really thought this […]
On July 31, military delegates from India and China held a nine-hour long inconclusive meeting at Moldo on the Chinese side in the Ladakh region and no official statement was released by either party after the meeting. Some Indian media outlets known for their fair reporting indicate frozen high altitude Himalayan borders between India and […]
While Joe Biden’s first overseas presidential trip was to Europe, it is becoming clearer by the day that his administration’s foreign policy priority is the Asia-Pacific region and the rise of China. This core fact is highlighted again this week with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External […]
On July 19, Ben & Jerry’s created much controversy when it announced its decision to stop selling its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Known for supporting social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, the Vermont-based company explained that a continuation of such sales in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would be “inconsistent […]
Bangladesh and China share bilateral relations based on mutual interests and opportunities. This relationship is becoming firm with increased stability and continuity. According to Chinese government designations, Bangladesh and China are in a “strategic partnership of cooperation”. Nevertheless, Beijing’s insecurities on the Quad, the India aspect and the trade deficit are creating tensions in the […]
The assassination of the Haitian President last week by a group of foreign mercenaries is only the latest calamity to hit the Haitian people. Political upheavals and natural disasters have plagued this country for many decades now. Haiti’s beginnings as a nation-state are still a matter of national pride. In 1804, former African slaves defeated the […]
Following the NATO summit in Brussels and the meeting between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, all eyes have now turned to China. The recent NATO Brussels Summit Communique emphasized that China’s international policies and its increasing influence could create difficulties that would need to be dealt with by NATO as a whole. China-US relations […]
When former US President Donald Trump scrapped the Iran Nuclear Deal and applied a “maximum pressure” campaign of sanctions, he was widely derided and criticized. The reality, however, is that Trump was far more successful in curtailing aggressive Iranian behavior than either his predecessor Barack Obama or his successor, and Obama’s former running mate, Joe Biden has […]
US President Joe Biden is forging ahead with the most progressive and forward-looking agenda since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in bringing economic relief to the underclass and underemployed. Indeed, Biden has promised to revamp the country’s crumbling infrastructure and invest in climate friendly initiatives, but when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he remains […]