Category: Eastern Europe and Russia

News and Analyses of events in Eastern Europe and Russia

Reassessing the Rome Statute of the ICC and the Urgent Need for Bangladesh’s Withdrawal

In recent years, Western nations have been increasingly outspoken about the issue of human rights abuses by the government in Bangladesh. Western NGOs and INGOs, often referred to as defenders of human rights, have asserted that they have documented these crimes and have urged Western governments to take action. Consequently, the Rapid Action Battalion was sanctioned by the United States. However, the US’s involvement did not stop there. It exerted its influence prior to the last general election, demonstrating a lack of support for the current government. It is evident to the US that the current ruling party of Bangladesh does not align with the US’s policy of containing China. Therefore, the US will continue its efforts to effect political change, a prospect that the members of the ruling party leader may find unwise, not only for the potential loss of state power but also for the possibility of being tried both domestically and internationally under the Rome Statute of the ICC, which the law ministry ratified without any geopolitical foresight.

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Categories: America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / South Asia / Western Europe

The War in Ukraine and the NATO-Russia Power Play in a Comfortably Numb World

The strategic rationale for NATO’s enlargement was rooted in both idealism and realpolitik. Proponents argued that expanding NATO would consolidate a Europe “whole and free,” ensuring ‘’stability and democracy’’ in regions historically susceptible to authoritarianism. However, critics contended that this rationale failed largely when the war in the Balkans broke out in the late 1990s and the enlargement was considered a provocative move, encircling Russia and undermining its regional security interests. This dichotomy between Western aspirations for a hegemonic international order and Russia’s perception of encirclement set the stage for the geopolitical discord that would eventually manifest in the war in Ukraine.

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Categories: America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Western Europe

A Geostrategic Perspective of the Decline of Hegemonic Stability Theory and Emergence of Augmentism

The proposed “Augmentation Theory” or “Augmentism” represents a comprehensive approach to geostrategy that integrates key elements from the Theory of Defensive Realism, the Theory of Balance of Power, the Theory of Neoclassical Realism, and the Theory of Liberal Institutionalism. Augmentism is a very delicate balancing act that will seek to work only on the positive and sustainable growth of international relations, not otherwise, but one that can lead an emerging power into a more secure and influential position in the global arena.

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Categories: Africa / America / Central Asia / East Asia / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia / Western Europe

Geopolitical Quagmire of Nagorno-Karabakh

The ongoing situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is a direct result of unsuccessful and insincere diplomatic efforts by both regional and global powers. Their incapacity to effectively address the issue has worsened the crisis, causing a large number of people to leave the region. Additionally, the growing polarization, both regionally and globally, has played a significant role in shaping the current mass migration scenario. This polarization, characterized by sharp divisions and disputes, has added another layer of complexity to the situation, making it increasingly challenging for displaced individuals to find safety and stability. It’s evident that the actions, or lack thereof, by these powers have had a profound impact on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

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Categories: Central Asia / Eastern Europe and Russia

The High Stakes Gambit: Russia’s Enigmatic Quest in Ukraine

Russia’s strategic aspirations in Ukraine remain within reach, albeit at a considerable price. The road ahead promises to be protracted and laden with significant costs. To secure its objectives, Russia must persistently channel substantial resources into bolstering its military and intelligence capabilities, all the while nurturing an unwavering political resolve to see the conflict through to its culmination.

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Categories: America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Western Europe

Human Rights Organisations: Demons Masquerading as Saints?

When justice is not fulfilled, it surely invites backfire. It will be reminded of the more than 13,000 people experiencing commercial sex trafficking in Sacramento County in the US state of California between 2015 and 2020, police brutality and torture causing at least 1,124 people killed in 2021, and 40 million living in poverty in its territory, let alone shocking death tolls of war crimes committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

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Categories: Africa / America / Central Asia / East Asia / Eastern Europe and Russia / Indo-Pacific regions / Middle East / South Asia

Geoeconomic Rivalries in the Middle East: Consequences for Global Stability and Security

China’s recent achievement in restoring diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia has taken the world by surprise. This action has provided Beijing with new opportunities to expand its influence in the Middle East and advance its global initiatives. The agreement was disclosed on 10 March 2023 following four days of secret talks in Beijing. Analysts view China’s efforts to mediate this agreement as indicators of a shifting global order. The agreement is a diplomatic victory for China, which seeks to present an alternative vision to the U.S.-led international order. It is Beijing’s first foray into Middle East mediation, a field that Washington has dominated for the past four decades. This development has regional and global implications and merits in-depth examination.

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Categories: Middle East / America / Eastern Europe and Russia / Western Europe

Nord Stream sabotage benefits the US more and complicates Europe’s energy sourcing

If the US is behind the incident, such overtly interrupting Europe’s energy supply runs the risk of endangering its ties with its allies, such as Germany. Some analysts have suggested that it is probable that the US’s intelligence services and its European command office planned the leaks. Some others also argued that anti-Russian forces or organizations might work together with the US to start a new chorus of antagonism to Russia worldwide.

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Categories: Eastern Europe and Russia / America / Western Europe