Putin and Xi plot their SWIFT escape

Russia and China's announcement of an independent financial trading platform will free nations under US sanctions from western intrusion into their commercial activities

Behind the Tin Curtain: BRICS+ vs NATO/G7

The west is nostalgically caught up with outdated 'containment' policies, this time against Global South integration. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the world is moving on, together.

St. Petersburg sets the stage for the War of Economic Corridors

In St. Petersburg, the world's new powers gather to upend the US-concocted “rules-based order” and reconnect the globe their way

The Sanctioned Ones: How Iran-Russia are setting new rules

While China, keen to ward off US sanctions as long as possible, is lagging, its RIC partners Iran and Russia are doing the legwork to break the west's global financial grip.

US ‘coercive diplomacy’ with Saudi Arabia

While a carrot may advance US interests infinitely better than a stick at this sensitive juncture in US-Saudi relations, all indications are that Biden will resort to the stick.

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.

Four signs a US-Gulf ‘divorce’ is in the making

The rapid-fire 'messages' directed at Washington from old Persian Gulf allies are brutal, and strongly suggest that the days of US hegemony are done

Saudi authorities invite Chinese president for official visit: Report

Riyadh is reportedly looking to strengthen ties with Beijing as it continues to move away from Washington's sphere of influence

Erdogan in Kiev, Putin in Beijing: can neo-Ottomanism fit into Greater Eurasia?  

Reporting from Istanbul: As the world turns further over monumental announcements from the Putin-Xi summit in Beijing, Turkey's Erdogan keeps walking a thinning tightrope between NATO and Eurasia

West Asia transforms: Twenty Arab states in China’s BRI sights

‘A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind.’ So says a Chinese proverb, and nowhere is this truer than in crisis-ridden West Asia, now a major focus of Beijing’s BRI vision to bring infrastructure, connectivity and economic growth to this struggling region

A silent Turkish-Russian standoff in Kazakhstan

Turkey's dream of a common army for Turkic countries may have been dashed by the quick Russian-led CSTO operation to subdue violent unrest in Kazakhstan early this year.

Defying US Caesar Act, China admits Syria into BRI

Syria’s entry into China's Belt and Road Initiative is to support its economic integration into West Asia and fortify its post-conflict recovery

Iran, China begin implementing 25-year cooperation agreement

Iran's top diplomat announced that the 25-year Tehran-Beijing cooperation document will be implemented from 14 January

China welcomes Syria in joining the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative provides Syria with a significant opportunity for economic development

Assad, Syria and China’s new Silk Road

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

US President says foreign nations can cut oil imports from Iran

Joe Biden has reassured the global community that oil supplies are enough to maintain economic sanctions on Iran

China, Syria discuss bilateral ties

The call is strategically significant, as Syria plays an important role in China's Belt and Road Initiative

The kingdom’s tough choices: between MbS and a hard place

If Saudi Arabia does not choose between sweeping internal reforms or an ambitious external agenda, its ruling dynasty may be in peril. Riyadh's dwindling resources cannot sustain both.

Upgrade in Iran-Pakistan relations critical to regional security

There's no two ways about it. Iran and Pakistan must forge closer ties in order for regional security, economy and trade routes to thrive.

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.

Iran has joined the SCO, now it needs to turbo-boost its economy

With Iran's full accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) complete, Tehran now needs to wrangle big trade deals with its new regional friends to offset US sanctions against its beleaguered economy.