MenuAs one door closes, another opens. For Russia, which lost European markets and relations, the doors of old Soviet allies and fellow pariahs open, this time in Pyongyang. Communist North Korea was Joseph Stalin’s creation, installed under Soviet occupation and formally established in 1948, then pulled back from collapse two years later by Mao Zedong’s
Monthly Archives: September 2026
Trump Worries Ukraine Strategy Is Driving Up Diesel Prices
Russia faces an acute energy and fuel crisis following months of Ukrainian attacks on its refineries and other energy infrastructure. This has created long lines and economic slowdowns in Russia, forcing some regions to ration fuel. Read the full article here.
Undersea Infrastructure : A Weak Spot For National Security
Undersea cables and pipelines are a part of critical infrastructure in the modern world under an increasing threat. More than 95% of international internet traffic travels through undersea fiber-optic cables, connecting virtually every major digital service. Companies including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and many telecommunications providers invest directly in subsea cables to support demand that affects our daily lives.
The Coming Copper Crunch
The price of copper surged over 40% in 2025 and continued to hit record highs in 2026, reflecting strong demand and highlighting the impact of supply constraints. Essential since the Bronze Age, copper has remained crucial to the global economy. Copper’s desirability and ubiquity stems from its thermal and electrical conductivity, malleability, and corrosion resistance, making it difficult to
Energy Targets In The Sights Of Two Theaters Of War
On the first of this month, Ukrainian drones struck three oil refineries in Russia’s Bashkortostan region near the city of Ufa, around 1,600 kilometers from the border. A day later, Rosneft’s Saratov refinery was hit, a plant that processed 5.8 million tons of oil in 2024. These two incidents are part of a long list of damaging attacks on energy
Energy After Peace In Ukraine
Russia—the petrostate that spent a decade trying to weaponize natural gas against Europe—is now rationing fuel at home as shortages spread across the country. The Crimea has declared a state of emergency, and other occupied Ukrainian territories are struggling to secure adequate supplies as civilians continue to flee the deteriorating conditions. Ukraine’s sustained drone and missile campaign against Russian
Alliances Duel To Reshape Middle Eastern Energy
As the fighting in the Persian Gulf expands, competition between major region-adjacent powers, including Turkey and Pakistan, is plain to see. While Iran is attacking the U.S., Israel, Kuwait, the UAE, and other Gulf states, the Sunni bloc led by Turkey and Pakistan, with Saudi Arabia and Qatar as its members, is bobbing and weaving.
Hormuz Conflict Damages Persian Gulf Havens
The war with Iran and the recurrent closures of the Strait of Hormuz have rattled financial markets across the globe, but the greatest immediate costs are being borne by the Arab Gulf states, long safe havens of domestic and international investors. Missile strikes and drone attacks have damaged critical facilities, disrupted aviation, and undermined the
Beyond Oil: Disruption In Hormuz Spells Trouble For Global Markets
This past Saturday, July 4th, saw two major events on the world stage. In America, jubilant crowds celebrated 250 years of independence, replete with fireworks, air shows, sizzling heat, and congratulations from around the globe, including the EU, UK, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, and many others. Read the full article