with Michael McFaul via National InterestPutin’s ambitions reach beyond Russia’s near abroad and to the international system itself, in which it seeks to regain and retain its position as a great power.
Karen Young | AEIdeas
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are modeling a new kind of state capitalism for the Middle East and North Africa region. The long-term effects are unknown, but it is important to question whether the organic startup culture that cultivated the ride-sharing service Careem will survive to create opportunities for others.
U.S. General Troubled by Russian Mercenaries in Africa
By Richard Sisk, Military.com: “Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the nominee to head U.S. Africa Command, said Tuesday that the presence of Russian mercenaries in the Central African Republic is part of the effort by President Vladimir Putin to regain influence for Moscow in the Sub-Sahara."
(IHS Jane’s 360) The Chinese military equipment being acquired by African countries is not of a high quality, according to the US Army general nominated as the next commander of the US military's Africa Command.
Leon Aron | Foreign Affairs
The history of relations between the two countries is fraught, and they play vastly different roles in the world economy, making a divergence in their objectives all but unavoidable. In short, reports of a Russian-Chinese alliance have been greatly exaggerated.