The Eurasian Steel Trap is Closing

Writing in Real Clear World, Brandon J. Weichert argues that, “rapidly over the whole of Eurasia as the Americans flee from Afghanistan, are a steel trap. They will ensnare all peoples unfortunate enough to find themselves living within reach of the ideological fangs of these Eurasian autocrats. With the disastrous end of America’s quixotic mission to turn Afghanistan into Arizona, China and Russia are now using Afghanistan as a highway to expand their power beyond their territories—just as these powers did until 600 years ago, when China’s Silk Road was the primary trading route linking Asia with the Middle East and Europe.”

Putin and Xi Are Not Embracing Each Other (Yet)

“Despite appearances to the contrary, the Sino-Russian alliance is not solidified.  Moscow and Beijing just want a better deal from Washington.”

Holding Turkey Accountable

“Turkey has made its intentions clear: it is not a Western ally. Ankara does not seek to be a Western partner. If the West continues treating Turkey as though it were simply a wayward child rather than a rival, the West will continue to be undermined and embarrassed from within.”

The True Ambitions of Russian Foreign Policy

Most Western analysts are incorrect in their view on Russian foreign policy intentions. Very often, they focus solely on Russia’s western side and completely ignore Russia’s Far East. This backgrounder seeks to change that. After all, Russia without its Far East is not Russia. It is Muscovy. And that’s not a country, it’s an existential target.