Assad, Syria and China’s new Silk Road

Count on Syria becoming an important West Asian hub in China's Belt and Road Initiative

Algeria, China sign implementation plan for ‘Belt and Road’ initiative

The BRICS group of nations represents the world’s most prominent economies outside of the western hemisphere

The Global South births a new game-changing payment system    

Challenging the western monetary system, the Eurasia Economic Union is leading the Global South toward a new common payment system to bypass the US Dollar.

Samarkand at the crossroads: from Timur to the BRI and SCO

From its ancient Silk Road role to China’s BRI project, Uzbekistan is set to remain an important geoeconomic hub in Central Asia

India-Russia-Iran: Eurasia’s new transportation powerhouses

No longer just an 'alternative route' on a drawing board, the International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) is paying dividends in a time of global crisis. And Moscow, Tehran and New Delhi are now leading players in the Eurasian competition for transportation routes.

String of pearls: Yemen could be the Arab hub of the Maritime Silk Road

With an Ansarallah takeover of Yemen, Asia's trade and connectivity projects could expand into some of the world's most strategic waterways

If the Taliban plays smart, Afghanistan can transform West Asia’s Silk Road story

Once the 'proud pearl' of the ancient Silk Road, Afghanistan is today in tatters. But if the Taliban plays smart, the Asian Silk Road can utterly transform the war-torn country's fortunes.

Global South: Gold-backed currencies to replace the US dollar

The adoption of commodity-backed currencies by the Global South could upend the US dollar’s dominance and level the playing field in international trade.

Why the CIA attempted a ‘Maidan uprising’ in Brazil

The failed coup in Brazil is the latest CIA stunt, just as the country is forging stronger ties with the east.

Predictions for 2023? Annus horribilis with some surprising upsides

The Cradle's writers offer up their predictions for 2023. The common theme is massive global shifts, some good, some bad.

Why BRI is back with a bang in 2023

As Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative enters its 10th year, a strong Sino-Russian geostrategic partnership has revitalized the BRI across the Global South.

Eurasia’s Middle Corridor: An Atlanticist frenzy to stifle Europe-Asia integration

Geopolitical interests between the Anglo-American establishment and the Sino-Russian-led axis will clash over the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Xi Jinping’s Visit to Saudi Arabia and the overthrow of Atlanticism

The historic China-Arab Summit currently underway in Riyadh symbolizes the emerging Eurasianism in the Persian Gulf.

Six months into Ukraine’s collapse, the world has changed forever

The inevitable transfer of power away from the west is leading to a surge in state-sponsored terrorism, but this will do little to reverse the trend

Russia in Africa: Connecting continents with soft power

Rather than continental, Russian and Chinese-led infrastructural development in Africa should be seen as part of a grander project of Afro-Asiatic integration

From Balkh to Konya: Discovering Rumi’s spiritual geopolitics

While Jalal al-Din Rumi is synonymous with Islamic mysticism, a deeper dig brings to light the West Asian political changes and upheaval that shaped his world and other-worldly view.

In Eurasia, the War of Economic Corridors is in full swing

Mega Eurasian organizations and their respective projects are now converging at record speed, with one global pole way ahead of the other.

The Empire is not done torturing Afghanistan

Despite its resounding defeat, NATO is not quite done with inflicting misery on the land of the Afghans

Juggling grenades: To contain China, the US will ignore Russia in India

Divergent policies on Moscow will not get in the way of Indo-US efforts to counter Beijing’s regional influence.

Terror from Balochistan: a menacing tool to disrupt Sino-Pakistani economics

A Baloch suicide bombing targeting Chinese workers in Karachi comes a mere month after the US-backed ousting of PM Imran Khan. Pakistan is a critical BRI hub in Beijing's vast Eurasian connectivity project, and it looks like CPEC is the ultimate target of this disruption.

How Mariupol will become a key hub of Eurasian integration

Mariupol was battered by Ukraine's right-wing Azov battalion well before Moscow launched its military ops. In Russian hands, this strategic steelworks port can transform into a hub of Eurasian connectivity.

The twists and turns of Erdogan’s foreign policy

A deeply NATO-entrenched Turkey is heading east, but not in the way you think. Erdogan's 'Asia Anew' strategy is all about Turkic primacy, and will likely be at odds with Chinese and Russian-driven integration plans

Two years on, the Soleimani spirit gathers clout

The US may have assassinated Soleimani, but the illegal aggression has not thwarted the Quds Force general's plans for West Asia one bit, and may even have accelerated them

Checkmate: Iran is spearheading a geopolitical sea change in West Asia

While the west bangs on about Vienna talks, sanctions and military options, Iran has been quietly building a vast network of alternative solutions to cement its Asian ascent

Will the Islamic world save Afghanistan?

Between the complex internal dynamics of the Taliban and the western trick of conditional aid, it is the Muslim world that must act to save Afghanistan

Afghanistan: between pipelines and ISIS-K, the Americans are still in play

US trained and armed Afghan security forces are joining ISIS-K, which makes the US 'withdrawal' from Afghanistan look more like an American 'repositioning' to keep chaos humming

Turkey’s existential choice: BRI or bust

Turkey may be where east meets west, but it can no longer afford to straddle two opposing geoeconomic agendas vying to define West and Central Asia's development. Ankara must choose, and soon.

Eurasia takes shape: How the SCO just flipped the world order

As a rudderless West watched on, the 20th anniversary meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was laser-focused on two key deliverables: shaping up Afghanistan and kicking off a full-spectrum Eurasian integration.

Xi of Arabia and the petroyuan drive

Xi Jinping has made an offer difficult for the Arabian Peninsula to ignore: China will be guaranteed buyers of your oil and gas, but we will pay in yuan.

Xi arrives in Saudi Arabia, signs bilateral agreement valued at $29.26 billion

Xi will attend three summits during his three day visit; one with the Saudi leadership, one with GCC leaders, and one with Arab leaders