Central Asia

Daily Memo: Kyrgyzstan’s President Resigns, Kim’s Apology Tour Continues

Geopolitical Futures - October 15, 2020

Kyrgyz president resigns. With protests over the results of Oct. 4 parliamentary elections showing no sign of stopping, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov announced his decision to resign. The new prime minister, Sadyr Zhaparov, had repeatedly demanded Jeenbekov’s resignation. Russia, the major player in the region, said it would not provide financial support to the Kyrgyz […]

Russia’s Low-Key Problem in Kyrgyzstan

Ekaterina Zolotova - October 14, 2020

On Oct. 4, Kyrgyzstan held parliamentary elections that, true to form, ended in political unrest. Rallies broke out the next day, leaving more than...

Daily Memo: Diplomacy in the Himalayas, Weapons for Taiwan

Geopolitical Futures - October 13, 2020

Editor’s Note: Astute readers will notice that today’s Daily Memo has a new look and feel. The alterations are meant to accommodate other content...

In Search of a Solution to Russia’s Strategic Problem

George Friedman - October 13, 2020

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe in history. Though it may not be true...

Daily Memo: Unrest in Iran and Kyrgyzstan

Geopolitical Futures - October 9, 2020

It’s been a bad week for Iran. The U.S. Treasury on Thursday rolled out a new round of sanctions against 18 Iranian financial institutions...

Daily Memo: Something Stirs in Kyrgyzstan

Geopolitical Futures - October 6, 2020

Meanwhile, in Kyrgyzstan … As violence continues in the Caucasus, another former Soviet satellite is starting to simmer. Protests broke out in the Kyrgyz...

The Trouble With a Premature Vaccine

Alex Berezow - September 11, 2020

Hope is beginning to fade that the world will have a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine before the predicted “second wave” arrives that will...

Daily Memo: Russia Drums Up Support, the Global Supply Chain Shifts Away From China

Geopolitical Futures - September 4, 2020

Russia plays power broker. A meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization began on...

Vaccine Nationalism Is an Exaggerated Threat

Alex Berezow - August 12, 2020

Nationalism is all the rage these days. Following decades of globalization, the pendulum has begun to swing back the other direction, triggering fears that...

Will the Coronavirus Forge a Brave New World?

Alex Berezow - June 24, 2020

Of all the major geopolitical players on the planet, Mother Nature may be the toughest adversary. Nature has neither imperatives nor constraints to guide...