Global Rivalries

Just like Southeast Asia, Europe faces a fast-moving energy crisis as the Iran war shakes global fuel supply. The European Union has launched a bold new plan to protect its economy and citizens from rising energy costs and supply risks. Leaders say urgent action now could shape the region’s future for years.   Energy Crisis Pressure Hits Europe Hard Fuel prices are rising across Europe. Supply chains feel stress as global tensi...

The United States has paused its naval escort mission in the Strait of Hormuz, raising new questions about the future of the Iran war. President Donald Trump said the move aims to create space for a possible deal with Iran. But tensions remain high, and the global impact is already clear. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil routes. Around 20% of global oil supply normally passes through it. Any disruption quickly ...

Central Asia is adjusting quickly as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to unfold.   No country in the region wants direct involvement. But the conflict is already forcing governments to rethink trade routes, manage economic shocks, and recalibrate their diplomatic positions.   What is emerging is not a single response, but a shared pattern: contain the fallout, avoid escalation, and preserve flexibility i...

France has just put one of the strangest geopolitical ideas in the West back on the table: Canada joining the European Union.   It sounds absurd at first. Canada is not in Europe. But European leaders are starting to treat Ottawa less like a distant partner and more like a potential European sibling.   French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot did not present Canadian EU membership as a formal plan but did say Canada could &ldqu...

The Strait of Hormuz closure is becoming a poverty trap for the Global South. What began as a war shock in the Gulf is now moving through fertilizer markets and straight into the food chain, threatening planting seasons, harvests, and household budgets across countries already dangerously exposed to imported inputs. The stakes are high: at least 30 million people could be pushed into poverty if the disruption keeps spreading.   A Gulf War ...