Resource Politics

The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and carries over 5% of global maritime commerce. Today, it is being pulled in different directions by US sanctions, China’s growing trade power, and Panama’s attempts to maintain control of its own canal.   Why the Canal Still Shapes Global Trade The canal remains one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. When it slows down, global trade slows down with it. M...

Israel has become the first country in the world to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, breaking a rule African governments have upheld for more than three decades. The move angered Somalia, alarmed African leaders, and stirred debate internationally.   Announced in December 2025, the move established full diplomatic relations between Israel and Somaliland, including the opening of embassies and the appointment of ambassado...

Diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France took a sharp turn last month, as Algeria moved to legally redefine France’s colonial past as a crime with direct political consequences today.   Algiers Turns History Into a Legal Weapon On December 24, Algeria’s National People’s Assembly unanimously adopted a law declaring France’s colonization of Algeria a crime.   The law goes further than symbolic condemnat...

The Sahel, a narrow belt between the Sahara Desert and sub-Saharan Africa, is fast becoming one of the world’s most dangerous regions. Once largely ignored, the area now shapes security far beyond Africa. In 2024, the Sahel accounted for more than half of global terrorism deaths, with nearly 3,900 people killed in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso alone.   For global policymakers, the central Sahel has moved from the periphery to the cen...

The Grand Egyptian Museum officially opened in November 2025 beside the pyramids of Giza. After more than 20 years of delays caused by political unrest, regional conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch marks a major cultural moment for Egypt.   Egypt is presenting the museum as proof that it can protect, preserve, and display its ancient heritage on its own terms. But the opening has also reignited a long-running debate over Egypti...