MenuThe Jerusalem Post September 7, 2015 By Ariel Ben Solomon Russia’s recent military buildup in Syria has sparked concern in Western capitals as Vladimir Putin again appears to be shrewdly calculating that the West will not significantly counter his moves. The Russian president’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year was not strongly resisted by
Category Archives: Geopolitics
A More-Interesting-Than-Usual Panel on the Iran Deal
The Atlantic September 5, 2015 By James Fallows It’s Saturday night of Labor Day weekend. If you’re anything like me, rather than having some barbecue and a beer, or watching baseball, or watching tennis, or watching football (etc), or reading a book, you’re probably wondering: “How could I learn a little bit more about the
Iran Nuclear Agreement – C-SPAN
http://www.c-span.org/video/?327950-1/discussion-iran-nuclear-deal C-SPAN September 4, 2015 Panelists talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the Iran nuclear agreement. As Congress prepares for a crucial vote on the Iran deal in September, our panel of distinguished experts looked beyond partisan lines to present a wide range of views on the national-security stakes involved for the United States, Israel,
Moscow’s Veto of MH17 Tribunal: A Blunder of Potentially Huge Proportions
On July 29, Russia vetoed a draft UN resolution seeking to set up a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines jumbo jet more than a year ago.
By exercising its Security Council veto against the resolution, Moscow has lost control of the process, committing a possible error that may ultimately lead to convictions of rebel leaders and Russian officials—and a new round of sanctions against the Kremlin. This appears to be a massive strategic misstep, which the West may exploit.
Earth to Russia. Come Back to Reality
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Vice Speaker of the Duma and leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, has announced that in 2016, Russian flags will fly over Kyiv, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius. Zhirinovsky is known to fly trial balloons on the Kremlin’s behalf. One cannot tell whether this is information warfare, a mere bluff to unsettle NATO, or a real signal. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
CHINA’S “ONE BELT – ONE ROAD” MEGA-PROJECT WILL BOOST EURASIAN NATURAL GAS OPPORTUNITIES
Natural Gas Europe
June 29th, 2015
By Ariel Cohen
The efforts of China to ensure its economic development and preeminence include the creation of the “New Silk Road” – the enormous system of infrastructure mega-projects to stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic. If completed, it will be the largest infrastructure undertaking ever built. Natural gas features prominently in the plan.
Hey, Remember Me? It’s Europe: The Transatlantic Alliance is in Trouble
The Atlantic Council
June 25, 2015
By Arial Cohen
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves cautioned at the Bratislava Global Security Forum on June 20, 2015, that the West should not stress the differences between old and new Europe, but find ways to unite Central and Eastern Europe with Western Europe.
ARIEL COHEN: RUSSIA IS EXPANDING INTIMIDATION TACTICS IN EASTERN UKRAINE
Kyiv Post
April 24, 2014
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Vice President Joe Biden, who went to Ukraine on Monday for a two-day visit to express U.S. support for the government in Kyiv, has accused Russia of being behind the irregular armed forces who are taking over Eastern Ukraine
Turkey threatens the major prospects for Eastern Med gas supply
Security Europe
June 2015
By Ariel Cohen
As Europe seeks to diversify its sources of natural gas as an alternative to the politically sensitive Russian supply, a massive off-shore gas source in the Mediterranean is ready for exploration and drilling. There are game-changing stakes at play.
Beyond Oil and Gas: Kazakhstan Bets its Future on Reform
Natural Gas Europe
June 08, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Recent events in Ukraine and Russia’s anti-Western rhetoric and military posture force European energy consumers to look for alternatives for Russian hydrocarbons. One of the possible suppliers of both oil and gas could be Kazakhstan, which boast the largest hydrocarbon resources in the oil-rich Caspian basin.