Global Rivalries

From the Bahamas to Guyana and Suriname, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) brings together 21 countries, including 15 member states and six associate members. Its population is small by global standards, around 16 million people, but it is young, diverse, and strategically exposed to some of the most volatile dynamics in global trade, climate, and security.   That is why CARICOM still matters more than five decades after its creation. It i...

Pakistan is facing a major public transport crisis as new bus projects in Karachi struggle with long delays and growing disruption. What was meant to fix traffic and modernize commuting has instead added more pressure to already overloaded roads. Large infrastructure plans are still unfinished, leaving commuters stuck in daily congestion.   This situation is important because it reflects a wider issue across Asia. Cities with fast-growing ...

Japan and Australia are moving quickly to strengthen their defense alliance as global tensions rise. A key meeting in Tokyo on April 8, 2026, brought urgent focus to security risks, including a North Korea missile test and instability in the Middle East. These events are shaping a more dangerous global landscape, making strong partnerships more important than ever for peace and stability.   North Korea Missile Test Raises Indo-Pacific Secu...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has delivered one of the sharpest allied rebukes yet of Donald Trump’s war with Iran, warning that the United States entered the conflict without a clear strategy and is now being outplayed by Tehran. Merz said Washington is being “humiliated” by Iranian leaders, especially the Revolutionary Guard. His message was blunt: Iran is proving stronger than expected, the US looks trapped, and Europe is...

The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave OPEC on May 1 is more than an oil story. It is a sign that the balance of power inside the Gulf is shifting, and that the system that has shaped global oil markets for decades is starting to strain.   OPEC has long acted as a coordinating body for major oil producers, setting output targets to influence global supply and prices. Its power depends on members accepting limits in exchange for ...