By Pieter Cleppe After Liz Truss’s brief interlude as British prime minister, the British Conservative Party is still struggling. In the opinion polls, the Tories are no less than 24 percentage points behind the Labour opposition. The new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and 15 of his ministers even risk losing their seats in the upcoming […]
The Brexit debate continues Read More »
In an analysis on Italian PM Meloni’s visit to Libya, Francesco Sassi, a Research Fellow Energy Geopolitics & Markets at the Ricerche Industriali ed Energetiche Research Institute in Bologna, Italy, writes on twitter: “According to the Libyan oil ministry of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the deal signed between Italy’s ENI and Libya’s NOC
“Italy’s plans to become the EU’s energy hub start with a first reality check in Libya” Read More »
Tensions between the EU and South East Asia over its deforestation now also affecting trade ties. By the end of 2023, the EU aims to agree the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Trade Agreement (IEU-CEPA). According to EU ambassador Vincent Piket, this is being complicated by the EU’s deforestation regulation. He stated: “We have lots of explaining to
Indonesia and Malaysia to send joint delegation to Brussels to address trade tensions Read More »
Writing for Foreign Policy, Colin P. Clarke, the director of research at the Soufan Group and a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, warns “Russia’s Wagner Group Is Fueling Terrorism in Africa” as “Moscow’s scramble for valuable resources has come at the cost of regional security.” He writes: “Research that examines best practices and
“Russia’s Wagner Group Is Fueling Terrorism in Africa” Read More »
Time magazine reports how “the World Is Protesting America’s Climate Plan”, highlighting how not only the EU but also South Korea, Japan and India are angry at the U.S. climate measures. One South Korean official dubs the law a “betrayal.” as during the COP conference in Egypt, the EU dropped an extensive document complaining of “problematic” tax
U.S climate debate raising tensions with trading partners Read More »
Despite warming relations between the European Union (EU) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a series of geopolitical, environmental and legal flashpoints could derail progress in 2023. On 14 December, EU and ASEAN leaders met for a summit in Brussels for the first time, signalling how significantly relations have improved over the past
More hindrances to a good relationship between the EU and South East Asia Read More »
By Pieter Cleppe Qatar has warned that the EU’s handling of a corruption scandal in the European Parliament threatens ongoing discussions around energy security, following allegiations that Qatar and Morocco sought to bribe EU legislators to influence policy. Four people have reportedly been charged with corruption, money laundering and being part of a criminal gang after
Qatar warns EU over corruption probe Read More »
At the EU-ASEAN Summit last week, Indonesian President Jokowi (picture) lashed out at the EU, issuing a warning related to the EU’s new Deforestation Regulation, suggesting that the EU should not attempt to dictate its standards to ASEAN if it wants to maintain its relationship with Indonesia going forward. He said: “There must be no
Tensions between EU and South East Asia during EU-ASEAN Summit Read More »
An international humanitarian “Christmas Convoy”, driven mostly by NATO and United States veterans, has arrived in Kyiv today, bringing 75 energy generators, 250 wood burning stoves, more than 50 SUV cars and light trucks and other critical winter equipment, in order to to bring relief to the suffering local population. The goods are worth 2
By Pieter Cleppe At a visit to Saudi Arabia, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Gulf Arab leaders that China would work to buy oil and gas in yuan. According to Reuters, this is “a move that would support Beijing’s goal to establish its currency internationally and weaken the U.S. dollar’s grip on world trade.” President
A closer look at China’s pledge to work to buy oil and gas in yuan Read More »