As global power structures evolve and traditional alliances shift, Africa is forging increasingly strategic ties with the Middle East, ushering in a new era of south–south cooperation, diversified partnerships, and multipolar diplomacy. A growing number of African financial institutions and governments are actively engaging with the Gulf, not merely as
BRICS nations are accelerating de-dollarisation, reducing reliance on the US dollar in global trade and finance. This push for a new financial architecture, promoting local currencies and alternative payment systems, was spurred by the Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions. For example, over 80% of Russia-China trade in 2023 bypassed the
Saudi Arabia is set to significantly boost its crude oil exports to China in August, marking the highest volume in over two years, a development that underscores the deepening energy cooperation between two influential members of the BRICS+ coalition. According to five independent trading sources, Saudi Aramco will supply approximately
In Windhoek, delegates from ten Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states gathered for the SADC Public Service Commissions (PSCs) Forum, marking a pivotal moment for statecraft in the region. This forum, with participation from nations such as South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, underscores a pressing dedication to redefine
Cuba’s tourism sector, already contending with external pressures and regulatory complexities, faces a new challenge as United Airlines prepares to suspend its only direct flight between Houston and Havana. This development threatens to weaken a key transport link for American travellers outside Florida and could further strain Cuba’s tourism-dependent economy.
The announcement came from Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and UAE Minister of Industry and Technology, at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Forum in Washington DC. At the heart of the move is a recognition that America’s power infrastructure, designed for a different time,
By 2025, the slow death of Françafrique, France’s long-standing political, economic, and military dominance in West and Central Africa has evolved from a continental rejection into a strategic recalibration. Playing part of this transition is the rise of the BRICS bloc, now expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi
Vietnam was officially recognised as a partner country of BRICS in June 2025, joining the ranks of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This development highlights Hanoi’s ongoing effort to strengthen its global integration strategy by pursuing a broader range of diplomatic and economic alliances. It also underscores the country’s commitment to
The 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, took place amidst a myriad of geopolitical conflicts. As it stands: the Russia-Ukraine conflict has received renewed momentum; the crisis in the Middle East has been exacerbated involving both Iran and the US–culminating in the US striking Iran; the conflict between
Just a few decades ago, Iran was among the water-rich nations of West and Central Asia, boasting over 4,500 cubic metres of renewable freshwater per person annually, a figure once on par with Switzerland. Today, that number has dropped below 1,400, pushing the country into the margins of water stress.
