Border Disputes

Antarctica is one of the last untouched regions on Earth. It’s rich in fisheries, minerals, and possibly even oil. While harsh conditions and international agreements keep it largely off-limits, countries are quietly positioning themselves for future competition over it.   A Frozen Continent Worth Billions Antarctica contributes about $180 billion a year to the world economy through fisheries, tourism, and climate regulation. Explor...

The United States has seized a large crude oil tanker operating near Venezuela, a dramatic move that Washington says targets an illicit shipping network tied to sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, calling the vessel “the largest tanker ever seized,” but offered few details on the legal or strategic basis for the action.   Footage released on X showed US agents boarding the tank...

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising fast, officially over drugs. Washington has launched a major military build-up in the Caribbean, saying it is aimed at stopping narcotics trafficking linked to Venezuelan networks. The US has already struck boats accused of smuggling drugs and has warned that anti-drug strikes on land could begin “very soon.”   Caracas has responded with sharp warnings and has told its...

The Philippines and Canada are joining forces to beef up military ties as tensions with China heat up in the South China Sea.   On November 2, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty signed a new agreement in Manila. It allows troops from both countries to train together, swap knowledge, and coordinate on disasters and cybersecurity. The deal is similar to what the Philippines already ...

In a surprise move, US president Donald Trump is attempting to broker peace between Morocco and Algeria, rivals locked in a decades-long dispute over Western Sahara. The effort aims to end more than 60 years of hostility in North Africa’s Maghreb region, a zone critical to global energy routes and counterterrorism efforts.   Trump aims to achieve a breakthrough within the next two months. The push follows his announcement of a fragil...