Topics - International Studies of Strategic and Geopolitics

Pacific Islands Face Daunting Debt Crisis with China: Can They Find a Way Out?

29Jul

By José Carlos PalmaNo Comments

Pacific Islands Face Daunting Debt Crisis with China: Can They Find a Way Out?

By José Carlos Palma* In recent years, Pacific Island nations have experienced a dramatic increase in debt to China, as the Asian superpower becomes the region's largest lender. While infrastructure projects funded by these loans, such as roads and bridges, have spurred local development, the growing debt burden is raising concerns about long-term financial stability and economic sustainability. The Heavy Price of Progress Take Vanuatu, for example. In 2019, a $63 million loan from China funded the construction of a new tar-sealed road on Tanna Island, easing travel and boosting the local economy. Martha Kapalu, a resident, praises the road for making travel easier and improving access to markets and tourist attractions. However, Vanuatu’s financial situation is now strained, as the n...

Radicalization: Understanding the Pathways and Prevention Efforts

22Apr

By ISSGNo Comments

Counterradicalization

Radicalization: Understanding the Pathways and Prevention Efforts

By José Carlos Palma* In recent years, the world has witnessed a wave of terrorist attacks across Europe, many of which were carried out by individuals who were born and raised in European countries. These tragic events have shed light on the complex phenomenon of radicalization, a process by which individuals embrace extremist ideologies that may lead to acts of violence and terrorism. But what exactly is radicalization, and how does it occur? At its core, radicalization is the process through which individuals adopt extreme beliefs and ideas that challenge mainstream norms and values. According to the European Commission, radicalization involves people embracing opinions and views that could potentially lead to acts of terrorism. While ideology, particularly religious fundamentalism, o...

Global Resolve: Biden’s Push for International Collaboration in Combatting the Fentanyl Crisis

22Apr

By ISSGNo Comments

Counternarcotics Warfare

Global Resolve: Biden’s Push for International Collaboration in Combatting the Fentanyl Crisis

By José Carlos Palma* In the ongoing battle against the deadly opioid crisis, U.S. President Joe Biden has emphasized the critical importance of international cooperation to stem the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals. Following recent diplomatic engagements with leaders of China and Mexico, Biden underscored the need for robust global action to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the illicit drug trade. Speaking at a meeting at the White House dedicated to addressing the devastating impact of fentanyl, President Biden emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the scourge of the deadly drug extends beyond the borders of the United States. With more than 200,000 American lives lost to fentanyl-related overdoses in recent years, the need for comprehensive and ...

21Apr

By José Carlos PalmaNo Comments

Cybersecurity & Technology, Cybersecurity

Cybercom Establishes AI Task Force

By José Carlos Palma* In a strategic move aimed at enhancing cybersecurity capabilities, U.S. Cyber Command (Cybercom) has launched an artificial intelligence task force dedicated to identifying and implementing cutting-edge technologies. The initiative stems from an AI roadmap developed by Cybercom in response to a mandate from Congress, as part of the fiscal 2023 annual defense policy bill. This legislation tasked Cybercom, along with key stakeholders such as the Department of Defense chief information officer and the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), to devise a comprehensive five-year plan for the rapid adoption and acquisition of AI systems for cyber operations forces. "U.S. Cybercom has developed an AI roadmap and is working to ...

CYBER THREATS: AN EVOLVING AND PERNICIOUS GLOBAL THREAT

16Apr

By Vassilios DamirasNo Comments

Contributors, Cybersecurity, Dr. Vassilios Damiras, Vassilios Damiras – Pax Americana

CYBER THREATS: AN EVOLVING AND PERNICIOUS GLOBAL THREAT

By Dr. Vassilios Damiras * Cyber threats are the new security dilemma of the twenty-first century. These kinds of high-tech attacks threaten to destroy or severely damage critical global economic interests and undermine worldwide security stability. The growing dependency on information technology (IT) makes cybersecurity a vital component of the U.S. national security infrastructure. Data collection, processing, storage, transmission capabilities, mobile, wireless, and cloud computing are increasing rapidly, making cyberattacks quickly. The evolution of cyberterrorism is identified in incidents and the range of actors and targets. In the last few years, American intelligence has observed increased breadth and high sophistication of computer network operations (CNO) by non-state and stat...

THE USA AND ITS ENEMIES RUSSIA, IRAN, AND CHINA

15Apr

By Vassilios DamirasNo Comments

Contributors, Americas, Dr. Vassilios Damiras, Geopolitics and International Security, Vassilios Damiras – Pax Americana

THE USA AND ITS ENEMIES RUSSIA, IRAN, AND CHINA

By Dr. Vassilios Damiras Dr. Vassilios Damiras examines and analyses how Russia, Iran, and China try to dethrone the USA as the sole superpower. https://thenewscasters.com/podcast/the-usa-and-its-enemies-russia-iran-and-china/

Moscow and Tehran’s Role in the Middle East

15Apr

By ISSGNo Comments

Middle East, Geopolitics and International Security, Study Office

Moscow and Tehran’s Role in the Middle East

By José Carlos Palma* In recent years, the Middle East has become a battleground for geopolitical maneuvering, with Moscow and Tehran emerging as key players in shaping the region's dynamics. The evolving relationship between Russia and Israel, coupled with Iran's growing influence, underscores a complex interplay of interests and alliances that have far-reaching implications for regional stability and global security. Redefining Alliances The historic friendship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone significant strain in the face of shifting geopolitical realities. While once considered allies in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Syria, the relationship between Moscow and Jerusalem has cooled in recent years, dri...

15Apr

By Vassilios DamirasNo Comments

Vassilios Damiras – Pax Americana, Contributors, Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, Defense & Security, Dr. Vassilios Damiras

THE NEW GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division duck away from debris being thrown into the air as a Black Hawk helicopter prepares to extract soldiers on a mission in southeastern Afghanistan. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times) By Jacob Moscovitch Photography by Times Photography Staff By Dr. Vassilios Damiras* Dr. Vassilios Damiras discusses the new global war on terror. https://thenewscasters.com/podcast/the-new-global-war-on-terror/

Iran’s Ring of Fire: A Strategic Analysis

15Apr

By ISSGNo Comments

Middle East, Geopolitics and International Security, Regions, Study Office

Iran’s Ring of Fire: A Strategic Analysis

By José Carlos Palma* In the ongoing geopolitical chess game between Iran and Israel, the Middle East has become a battleground where tactics are nuanced, and consequences dire. At the heart of Iran’s strategy lies a two-pronged approach: a military nuclear capability acting as a shield, and a network of proxy forces encircling Israel, known as the “Ring of Fire.” The Strategic Framework Iran’s ambition to establish itself as a dominant regional power has manifested in its development of a sophisticated strategy aimed at maintaining a safe distance from confrontation while exerting influence through proxies. The “Ring of Fire” strategy, orchestrated by the Islamic Republic, involves bolstering militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and various m...

The Global Elections Supercycle of 2024: Navigating Uncertainties in a Sea of Choices

11Feb

By ISSGNo Comments

Global politics

The Global Elections Supercycle of 2024: Navigating Uncertainties in a Sea of Choices

By José Carlos Palma* As the world ushers in the year 2024, a global phenomenon is set to take center stage: the Elections Supercycle. With voters in countries representing approximately 54% of the world's population and nearly 60% of the global GDP heading to the polls, the reverberations of these electoral exercises will resonate far beyond national borders. This unprecedented convergence of elections is poised to create waves of regulatory and policy uncertainty, shaping the short and medium-term landscape of international affairs. A Magnitude Unprecedented: The 2024 Global Elections Supercycle The sheer scale of the Elections Supercycle in 2024 is staggering. Nations spanning Asia, Europe, North and South America, and beyond will engage in the democratic process, collectively influe...