Geopolitical Futures

Death and taxes. Russia is planning tax hikes to help pay for its protracted war in Ukraine. The corporate tax rate will increase to 25 percent from 20 percent, while the personal income tax rate for the highest earners will go to 22 percent from 15 percent. Levies on certain forms of mineral extraction are […]

South Africans go to the polls this week in one of the most significant elections in a generation. A leading power in Sub-Saharan Africa, they find themselves balanced between their BRICS membership and close cultural and economic ties to the West. Analyst Ronan Wordsworth joins host Christian Smith for a discussion on South Africa’s role in global geopolitics and the potential impacts of the election.

Trespassers. The president of the Philippines raised serious concern about China’s new policy of detaining “foreign trespassers” in the South China Sea, including the portion within Manila’s exclusive economic...

Russian defense. Russia and Belarus began a joint air drill on Monday, part of efforts to improve air defense systems and coordination. Relatedly, the head of the FSB’s border...

What it would take. Moscow would be willing to end the war in Ukraine with a cease-fire deal along the current battlefield lines, Reuters reported. However, the Russian president,...

Gathering in Tehran. On the sidelines of the funeral of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, representatives of the so-called axis of resistance met in Tehran. According to Iranian news agency...