Geopolitics

Turkish Tales: why investors are looking again at Turkey

After an eighteen-month monetary overhaul, Ankara is finally putting a lid on the price spiral that peaked above 70 percent last spring. The OECD’s April survey notes that, provided interest rates remain restrictive and fiscal discipline holds, consumer inflation should sink to single digits by 2027, bringing Turkey back within striking distance of its long-forgotten [...]

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Tensions Mount in the Middle East: countries close to conflict

Washington’s 22 June strikes on Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan crippled centrifuge halls and auxiliary power systems, shaving, by Tehran’s own estimate, several months off its enrichment timetable and forcing emergency repairs under international scrutiny. Yet the underlying capability endures, IAEA data show Iran now holds more than 9 tons of enriched uranium, including enough 60

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Vietnam’s quiet rise amid global realignment

Since 2007 when Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO), this Southeast Asian nation has produced seven-fold straight growth up to 2022 in imports and exports combined. There was a drop of 6.6% in 2023 due to lower demand in exports from the US and EU, but that demand quickly recovered by 2024. That Vietnam

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Kazakhstan: The Eurasian Trade Pivot

Kazakhstan enters mid-2025 in a somewhat different position from previous years. The economy is showing signs of stable growth, with the World Bank projecting GDP expansion driven by non-oil sectors, and revived investor interest. Inflation has eased, and fiscal buffers have been replenished following earlier shocks from the pandemic and energy price volatility. While hydrocarbons

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The UAE’s Rise and Reach: not to be underestimated

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) used to rely heavily on oil to drive growth, but over the last decade, it has shifted its economic focus. In 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the UAE’s GDP to grow by 4%, rising to 5% in 2026, outpacing both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Most of this growth

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China’s Opportunities: Western partners and allies

The evolving rift between Washington and Beijing is reshaping international trade and diplomacy. As the United States promotes a strategy of "de-risking" from China, aimed at reducing economic exposure without complete disengagement, Beijing is reinforcing its position as a necessary global partner. China continues to be as open for business as ever, offering investment opportunities

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Portugal’s Quiet Climb in Deep Tech and Bio Innovation

With advantageous visa programs, substantial government support, and funding from the European Union, Portugal is emerging as a cost-effective innovation hub for biotechnology, space technology, and ocean sciences. Deep tech is undeniably a significant driving force behind Portugal’s economy, paralleling trends seen in other European nations. Deep Tech The term "Deep Tech" refers to technologies

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ASEAN and the Gulf States, or is it Gulf-Asia?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN’s) foundation came about as a result of a reconciliation peace process between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, which had been brokered by Thailand. In fact, it was the Thai Foreign Minister, Thanat Khoman, who first proposed the idea for the association on the back of that peace agreement,

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

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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Maximum Pressure – the USA’s stance in the Middle East

In his second term, President Donald Trump has embarked on a series of assertive foreign policy shifts that are reshaping US engagement with the Middle East. Emphasising an "America First" agenda, the administration has adopted a more unilateral approach, re-evaluating traditional alliances and international commitments. ​A notable aspect of this strategy is the intensified ‘maximum

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