European Union – KCS Group Asia Ltd

Tariffs – opportunities amid the chaos?

Articles / ASEAN, China, Donald Trump, Due Diligence, European Union, Global trade, Gulf states, tariffs, trade relations, USA / 04/2025

On the back of President Trump’s tariff announcement (“Independence Day”), a massive dive across the world’s stock markets drove panic to huge levels. But was that panic really necessary? So many experts have claimed for years that trade tariffs were the worst thing a country could possibly do against its own economy, yet, if the [...]

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The Tripolar Era: Trump’s bold moves, Xi’s strategy, and Europe’s fight for relevance

Articles / China, Donald Trump, Due Diligence, Europe, European Union, Geopolitics, global economy, Global trade, International Security, President Xi, USA / 03/2025

The world economy is entering a new era - one in which power is increasingly divided among three major continental blocs: the US, China and Europe. No longer a uni-polar world under post-Cold War US hegemony, the current landscape is defined by conflicting regulatory frameworks, trade policies and geopolitical ambitions. At the forefront of these

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Sanctions and Secondary Risks: lessons from Russia, Iran and China

Articles / China, Due Diligence, European Union, financial governance, Global trade, International Security, Iran, Russia, Sanctions, United Kingdom, United States of America, world economy / 02/2025

Originally aimed at punishing specific nations, sanctions have evolved into a tool for influencing global behaviour, particularly in high-stakes countries like Russia, China and Iran. With the increasing complications of international trade and finance, sanctions have, for some time, not been limited to direct penalties on the targeted countries; they now extend to businesses, their

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Western Sahara: unresolved claims and emerging risks

Articles / China, Conflict, Due Diligence, European Union, Geopolitics, Morocco, natural resources, North Africa, Polisario Front, risks, Russia, Sahrawi people, United nations, United States of America, Western Sahara / 02/2025

The protracted dispute over Western Sahara between Morocco and the Polisario Front comes with challenges for multinational corporations in North Africa. Despite international efforts, the conflict remains unresolved, with sporadic fighting and a stalled peace process, raising fears of renewed violence. Recent developments have made matters worse. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) extended the

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Savings and Sanctions: Indonesia lured by Russian oil

Articles / BRICS, Due Diligence, Economy, European Union, G7, Geopolitics, Indonesia, Oil, Russia, Sanctions, USA / 01/2025

With its recent entry into BRICS offering Indonesia closer ties with Russia, the potential import of discounted Russian oil presents a double-edged sword with both an opportunity and a conundrum. The appeal is clear: Energy Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, and National Economic Council Chair, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, have calculated savings of up to US$22 per barrel,

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Hybrid Warfare – the coordinated efforts of Russia and China against the West

Articles / Business Risk, China, Corruption, disinformation, Due Diligence, European Union, Geopolitics, Global Threats, hybrid warfare, Russia, security risks, United Kingdom, USA / 01/2025

Russia and China are conducting hybrid warfare campaigns against Western nations, leveraging a blend of conventional military assets and non-military tactics, including cyberattacks, disinformation, economic pressure, and exploitation of political and legal systems. These efforts aim to destabilise and weaken adversaries from within. Russia has been intensifying its sabotage campaigns across the EU, reflecting a

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Nagorno-Karabakh has fallen: Russia’s silent role

Articles / Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian, Caucasus, Due Diligence, European Union, Geopolitics, humanitarian, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia, Sanctions, trade corridor, Turkey / 12/2024

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a longstanding territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has escalated exponentially over years. In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive against the self-declared Republic of Artsakh in Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russian peacekeepers. This offensive resulted in the profound dissolution of the Artsakh Defense Army and the

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Balkans Battlegrounds: external influences and internal divisions

Articles / Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Due Diligence, European Union, Geopolitics, Kosovo, NATO, political instability, Republic of Serbia, Russia / 11/2024

In the multi-faceted geopolitical landscape of the Balkans, the unresolved sovereignty dispute between Serbia and Kosovo - coupled with Bosnia's internal disagreements - pose substantial risks for multinational corporations. Kosovo’s recent actions to close border crossings in response to protests and new Serbian legislation, emphasise the on-going volatility in the region. These events reflect deep-seated

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Two’s company, three’s a crowd

Articles / BRICS, China, Due Diligence, European Union, Geopolitics, global economy, International Security, North korea, Russia, Russia:Ukraine conflict, USA / 11/2024

Recent developments have identified an escalation of alliances, with North Korean (NK) premier, Kim Jong Un, bolstering Vladimir Putin’s military capability by providing much-needed arms and personnel supplies for their war against Ukraine. This enhanced collaboration not only reveals a greater bond between NK and Russia, but it also presents a subtle challenge within the

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Aegean Shadows: the battle for blue gold in the Eastern Mediterranean

Articles / Cyprus, energy supply, European Union, Geopolitics, global energy security, Greece, maritime law, natural gas, Russia, Turkey, United States of America / 10/2024

The Eastern Mediterranean region, known for vast natural gas reserves and contentious maritime boundaries, is the subject of recent concerning geopolitical discourse. Interaction between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus reveals a wider narrative of regional muscle flexing and financial gain. These three countries, each with vested interests and historical claims, boarder maritime sea channels that have

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