Articles by: John P Ruehl

Breaking Europe’s Hold on Football

Breaking Europe’s Hold on Football

Initiatives from Saudi Arabia and the United States continue to put pressure on Europe’s traditional stranglehold over FIFA. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar brought together nations from around the world, and 1.5 billion people tuned in to watch the final. But while soccer is a source of local pride, passion, and personal and community identity globally, its official[Read More…]

by 15/09/2023 Comments are Disabled World
How Countries Prepare for Population Growth and Decline

How Countries Prepare for Population Growth and Decline

Around the world, diverse initiatives are being introduced to manage population changes. In early 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world with the latter having 850,000 fewer people by the end of 2022—marking the country’s first population decline since famine struck from 1959 to 1961. While this reduction may seem modest considering China’s 1.4 billion population[Read More…]

by 09/09/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Private Military Companies Continue To Expand in Africa

Private Military Companies Continue To Expand in Africa

The recent coup in Niger threatens to unleash more private military and security companies on a continent where they have become steadily more powerful in recent decades. In the wake of the July 26 coup in Niger, the world’s spotlight has once again turned to the expansion of private military and security companies (PMSCs) across Africa. Following the removal of[Read More…]

by 22/08/2023 Comments are Disabled World
A Brief Neocolonial History of the Five UN Security Council Permanent Members

A Brief Neocolonial History of the Five UN Security Council Permanent Members

Understanding the actions and justifications behind territorial colonial behavior by the UN Security Council since 1945. One of the underlying principles of the UN Charter is the protection of the sovereign rights of states. Yet since 1945, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Soviet Union/Russia, France, UK, U.S., and China) have consistently used military force to undermine[Read More…]

by 02/08/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Where Are the World’s Water Stresses?

Where Are the World’s Water Stresses?

Around the world, significant issues are negatively impacting water security. While the situation appears dire, cooperation initiatives show some signs of relief. In May 2023, the Arizona Department of Water Resources imposed restrictions on the construction of new housing in the Phoenix area, citing a lack of groundwater. The decision aims to slow population growth in one of the fastest-growing[Read More…]

by 10/06/2023 Comments are Disabled Environmental Protection
Conflict, Migration, and Demography in Russia and Its Border Regions

Conflict, Migration, and Demography in Russia and Its Border Regions

For centuries, Russian authorities have modified their approach to managing the country’s large, diverse population, held together by an ethnic Russian core. The war in Ukraine has again altered the Kremlin’s strategy of managing its complex domestic demographics. Despite the absence of a clear definition of “ethnic group,” the term generally refers to people with a common history, culture, and[Read More…]

by 06/06/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Taiwan’s Quest to Upgrade Its Battle Readiness Continues to Evolve

Taiwan’s Quest to Upgrade Its Battle Readiness Continues to Evolve

Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s growing strength have accelerated Taiwan’s military overhaul. Taipei is exploring multiple ways to enhance its security, but unorthodox methods risk escalation. In early May 2023, a U.S. delegation consisting of 25 defense contractors arrived in Taiwan for a security summit, aimed to increase interoperability between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries. It marks the latest step[Read More…]

by 27/05/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Taliban government’s deputy prime minister Abdul Salam Hanafi (C) and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (R) arrive in Moscow to attend international talks on Afghanistan, Oct. 20, 2021

The Taliban and the Islamic State Continue to Fight for Afghanistan’s Future

The Taliban’s ability to lead Afghanistan remains questionable and ongoing instability has provided the Islamic State the opportunity for expansion. On April 25, 2023, U.S. officials confirmed that the Taliban had killed the head of the Islamic State (IS) cell operating in Afghanistan. Though his identity has not been revealed, the IS leader is believed to have masterminded the 2021 Kabul airport attack that[Read More…]

by 12/05/2023 Comments are Disabled World
How the War in Ukraine Is Shaking up the Global Arms Industry

How the War in Ukraine Is Shaking up the Global Arms Industry

The struggles of Russian weapons manufacturers have added to historic shifts in the global arms market. On March 21, 2023, India’s air force confirmed that a major Russian arms delivery would not occur, citing Russia’s logistical challenges stemming from its war in Ukraine. It has served as the latest example of Russia’s inability to complete weapons deals with India since the conflict began in[Read More…]

by 13/04/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Why Ukraine Is Increasingly a Nuclear Headache for World Powers

Why Ukraine Is Increasingly a Nuclear Headache for World Powers

Concern over Russia’s potential use of nuclear weapons has been a constant feature of the Ukraine war. But Moscow has several ways to complicate Washington’s global nuclear outlook. On March 20, 2023, the British government confirmed it would supply Ukrainian forces with tank shells made with depleted uranium, which can “penetrate tanks and armor more easily due to its density and other physical properties.”[Read More…]

by 31/03/2023 Comments are Disabled World
How Complicit Governments Support the Drug Trade

How Complicit Governments Support the Drug Trade

Several governments or government entities play a double game of enforcing some drug laws while ignoring others. Their reasons vary, and history proves it will be difficult to stop. The modern globalized world has made it easier and far more lucrative to facilitate and enable international drug networks, and several governments, or elements within them, actively work with criminal groups to[Read More…]

by 08/02/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Why a Small City in Ukraine Is a Focal Point in the War

Why a Small City in Ukraine Is a Focal Point in the War

The small Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has seemingly limited strategic significance. But coupled with its growing psychological value, Russia will continue attempting to take the city, despite high casualties, by whatever means necessary. Since the Ukrainian army’s counteroffensive started gaining momentum in September 2022, the Russian army has largely been on the defensive. Russian drone and missile strikes continue to target Ukraine’s major[Read More…]

by 27/01/2023 Comments are Disabled World
How Many Ukrainian Refugees Will Return Home?

How Many Ukrainian Refugees Will Return Home?

 Millions of Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The longer the war continues, the less likely they are to return, with dire consequences for Ukraine. Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has created the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. While millions of Ukrainian refugees have since returned home, almost 2.9 million moved to Russia, according[Read More…]

by 14/01/2023 Comments are Disabled World
Moscow’s Leverage in the Balkans

Moscow’s Leverage in the Balkans

Since September, Kosovo’s fragile stability that has endured since 1999, following intervention by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has grown progressively precarious. Clashes between ethnic Serbians and Kosovo security forces saw Serbia’s military placed on high alert in November. Several high-profile Serbian officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić, announced that the Serbian military could be deployed to northern Kosovo to protect the ethnic Serbs, who make up the[Read More…]

by 23/12/2022 Comments are Disabled World
How Organized Crime Plays a Key Role in the Ukrainian Conflict

How Organized Crime Plays a Key Role in the Ukrainian Conflict

On November 1, the deputy director of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation downplayed remarks made on October 30 by an agency official, who warned of Western weapons bound for Ukraine being smuggled into Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Nonetheless, the affair generated significant attention and reflected previous concerns expressed by European authorities over Ukraine’s vulnerability to organized crime and the repercussions for the[Read More…]

by 20/12/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Sanctions Batter Russia as the Kremlin Attempts to Overcome Them

Sanctions Batter Russia as the Kremlin Attempts to Overcome Them

Western economic punishments on Russia continue to severely limit its economic prospects. But they also risk hastening the development of sanctions evasion techniques and rival economic mechanisms outside the control of Brussels and Washington. Immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S., the UK, and the EU placed major sanctions on Russia to constrict its economy and restrain[Read More…]

by 06/12/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Chinese Geopolitical Inroads Into Central Asia Are Coming at Russia’s Expense

Chinese Geopolitical Inroads Into Central Asia Are Coming at Russia’s Expense

The Ukraine war has revitalized the silent competition between China and Russia in Central Asia. Despite the steady shift in China’s favor since the Soviet collapse, Russia’s entrenched influence and friendly ties between Beijing and Moscow will prevent open contention. At the recent Commonwealth for Independent States (CIS) summit held on October 14 in Astana, Kazakhstan, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon expressed previously[Read More…]

by 15/11/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Why Support for Ukraine Could Dwindle in the Final Months of 2022

Why Support for Ukraine Could Dwindle in the Final Months of 2022

With the U.S. midterm elections looming and Europe’s economic situation deteriorating, the threat of reduced international support for Ukraine could limit Kyiv’s options heading into the new year. Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine’s armed forces have successfully defended much of their country. But without American assistance, the Ukrainian military campaign would have likely floundered months ago. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of[Read More…]

by 01/11/2022 Comments are Disabled World
How Europe Has Navigated Its Energy Crises

How Europe Has Navigated Its Energy Crises

A multifaceted response from Europe has so far prevented its energy woes from creating widespread social and economic destabilization. But with winter approaching, the crisis is far from over and risks are getting worse. While European energy prices have eased slightly in recent months, stress continues to build across a continent that has long been dependent on access to cheap Russian[Read More…]

by 25/10/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Iranian and Turkish Moves to Join Shanghai Cooperation Organization Raise Its Profile

Iranian and Turkish Moves to Join Shanghai Cooperation Organization Raise Its Profile

While far from an alliance, the SCO is increasingly utilized for managing Eurasian affairs without traditional Western mechanisms and organizations. Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 16, the 2022 summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council demonstrated that the SCO was continuing to evolve into a viable international political congregation independent from the West. Beginning[Read More…]

by 08/10/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Thousands of loyalists and migrants from other African countries languish in prisons.

Understanding Libya’s Relentless Destabilization

Libya’s competing domestic actors are being exploited by foreign powers seeking to downplay their role in the fragile country. After leading a military coup in 1969, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi cemented his rule over Libya for more than 40 years. A variety of different political ideologies—Pan-Arabism, Pan-Africanism, socialism, Islamic leftism, and others—characterized his leadership, which were further reinforced by a cult of personality.[Read More…]

by 24/09/2022 Comments are Disabled World
France’s Influence in Africa Faces Strains From Locals and Foreign Competitors

France’s Influence in Africa Faces Strains From Locals and Foreign Competitors

The recent visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Algeria is an attempt by Paris to hold on to the economic and cultural control it once had over its former colonies. On August 25, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Algeria on a three-day visit to begin mending bilateral relations with the country. Ties between France and Algeria have historically been erratic,[Read More…]

by 10/09/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Where Does Russia Receive Its Aid From?

Where Does Russia Receive Its Aid From?

While Ukraine has received enormous aid from around the world since the Russian invasion began in February, open support for Russia should not be dismissed. On August 24, Ukraine’s independence day, the U.S. provided a $3 billion military aid package to the country. The additional assistance adds to more than $80 billion worth of support that Kyiv has already received between January[Read More…]

by 03/09/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Did Nancy Pelosi Accelerate Chinese-Russian Military Cooperation With Her Taiwan Visit?

Did Nancy Pelosi Accelerate Chinese-Russian Military Cooperation With Her Taiwan Visit?

 China had warned of “serious consequences” in the lead-up to the visit but has avoided any significant military escalation so far. Following the chaotic U.S. departure from Afghanistan in August 2021 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has sought to reaffirm its commitment to its allies and partners. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on August 2[Read More…]

by 27/08/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Russia and the European Union Continue Transition to Wartime Economies

Russia and the European Union Continue Transition to Wartime Economies

Russia and the West have signaled their intent to commit to a long-term confrontation over Ukraine. While Russia has clearly felt the effect of sanctions, the EU remains vulnerable to Russian attempts to use energy to divide member states. Having declared victory over the “economic blitzkrieg” of Western sanctions in March, Russian President Vladimir Putin must contend with continued Western[Read More…]

by 05/08/2022 Comments are Disabled World
The Kremlin Seeks to Exploit Growing Wariness Over Refugees in Europe

The Kremlin Seeks to Exploit Growing Wariness Over Refugees in Europe

Instability and rising living costs have caused significant growth in refugee and other migrant numbers globally. The opportunity to exploit the crisis will not be missed by other countries, most notably Russia. Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than 7 million Ukrainian refugees have left the country till mid-June. While some 1.5 million ended up in Russia, the rest have mostly[Read More…]

by 21/07/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Photo: Beth Scupham/flickr/cc

The Ukraine War Is Accelerating the New Space Race

The suspension of collaborative projects between Russian and Western space agencies will enhance their traditional rivalries. But the new space race is also being driven by other countries—as well as private companies. Shortly after Russia was sanctioned for invading Ukraine in late February, Russia’s state-run space agency, Roscosmos, announced that it was officially suspending the U.S. from an upcoming Venus exploration mission.[Read More…]

by 12/05/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Why Biden Can’t Woo the Middle East

Why Biden Can’t Woo the Middle East

For decades, U.S. policy in the Middle East has relied on coordination with the Saudi-led Gulf states, Israel, Egypt and Turkey. Since the Obama administration, however, relations between Washington and its core regional allies in the Middle East have floundered, confounding the United States’ ability to manage Middle Eastern crises and formulate consensus in the region. Washington’s troubled relations with its Middle[Read More…]

by 03/04/2022 Comments are Disabled World
What Would a Potential CSTO Intervention in Ukraine Look Like?

What Would a Potential CSTO Intervention in Ukraine Look Like?

While Russia’s original and shifting objectives in Ukraine remain unclear, the Kremlin is increasingly wary of a publicized, drawn-out conflict. A potential intervention by its military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), could give Russia a diplomatic victory and an acceptable path to de-escalating its campaign if it can leverage its influence over member states effectively. Russia’s attempts to[Read More…]

by 25/03/2022 Comments are Disabled World
The War in Ukraine Is Sending Russia-China Relations in New Directions

The War in Ukraine Is Sending Russia-China Relations in New Directions

While the Ukraine crisis may put some strain on the Chinese-Russian relationship, it has also spurred deeper collaboration between them. Based on a shared desire to undermine the United States’ global order, their constructive partnership will not only endure the blowback from the Ukrainian invasion but is likely to expand. With the world’s attention focused on Ukraine in the weeks[Read More…]

by 19/03/2022 1 comment World
Why Is China Fanning the Flames of Ethnic Politics in the Balkans?

Why Is China Fanning the Flames of Ethnic Politics in the Balkans?

The fragile geopolitical nature of the Balkans has allowed Russia to consistently undermine Western integration attempts in the region. While foreign interference is nothing new in Europe’s underbelly, it has historically been limited to regional powers and the U.S. But China’s recent collaboration with Russia in supporting ethnic separatism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) reveals that Beijing is happy to challenge the[Read More…]

by 18/02/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Why It’s Time to Take the Russian-Led Military Alliance Seriously

Why It’s Time to Take the Russian-Led Military Alliance Seriously

The intervention by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Kazakhstan marks a change for multinational security both regionally and around the world. The Russian-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), created headlines in January 2022 after 2,500 of its troops entered Kazakhstan to assist in restoring order during anti-government protests in the country. The troops, sent in to secure[Read More…]

by 29/01/2022 1 comment World
Why Xinjiang Has Been a Touchy Subject in China for Centuries

Why Xinjiang Has Been a Touchy Subject in China for Centuries

 China’s increasing security measures in Xinjiang reflect its historical territorial vulnerability and concerns over internal stability. Balancing these with its international ambitions and foreign relations will be no easy feat. For over a decade, increasing international attention has been focused on China’s treatment of Xinjiang’s Uyghur population. While Beijing is wary of all forms of separatism—Hong Kong and Tibet being its other major[Read More…]

by 14/01/2022 Comments are Disabled World
Historical Differences Will Not Erode an Advantageous 21st-Century Chinese-Russian Partnership

Historical Differences Will Not Erode an Advantageous 21st-Century Chinese-Russian Partnership

Cautious cooperation, lingering distrust, and outright conflict have characterized the Sino-Russian relationship for hundreds of years. But alongside natural reasons to collaborate, a shared animosity toward the United States ensures positive relations will endure. The 21st century has seen the forging of “cooperative” relations between China and Russia, with the benefits of this new partnership outweighing the historical differences between these two[Read More…]

by 13/01/2022 Comments are Disabled World
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