UK is increasing its Indo Pacific strategic pivot, in joining the bandwagon of securing the critical geographical frontier in securing both the supply chain of key natural resources and critical minerals through maritime security and the concept of a Free and Open Indo Pacific, and also in increasing its presence in key flashpoints which will have

Kazakhstan is unlikely to be the only country to respond to the relative decline of the power of Russia’s Caspian Flotilla. After a slow start, however, it has gone further than other littoral states. The other littoral countries—Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran—will also likely expand their naval forces there. Countries such as the PRC and

The cabinet recognises the growing role of campaign teams, volunteers and financial backers in Indonesian politics. These groups have been rewarded with ministerial roles to secure their ongoing support. Extra-political party groups could be instrumental in mobilising support in countering oppositions. Prabowo’s reliance on technocrats for crucia

Investors expecting a dovish Federal Reserve could instead encounter sustained monetary tightening, as Trump’s populist policies keep inflationary pressures high. Initial optimism around deregulation and tax relief may quickly be overshadowed by the broader economic fallout. Emerging markets such as South Africa are especially vulnerable to the d

India abandoned its self-imposed restrictions on defence exports. Consequently, the BrahMos missile emerged as a key instrument in India’s defence diplomacy in the 2020s. The Philippines was the first to benefit from this shift, finalising a deal worth US$375 million in January 2022 to equip its marines with three missile batteries. The agreement