Foreign Affairs - Katoikos

BRICS: Navigating a Complex Economic and Political Landscape

Johnatan Santos
World , India , Peace & Security , Russia , Analysis , Foreign Affairs
28 August, 2024

Initially formed as “BRIC” – Brazil, Russia, India, China – and subsequently becoming “BRICS”, with the addition of South Africa,[1] this group of countries constitutes a unique coalition of emerging economies that collectively represent a significant counterbalance to the established economic powers of the West. Despite their collective identity, BRICS members are markedly different in…

The Birth of the Confederated Alliance of the Sahel States

On Saturday, 6 July 2024, in Niamey, capital of Niger, during the first meeting of the Alliance of Sahel States[1] (ASS/AES) a new agreement was signed to mark the beginning of the Confederated Alliance of the Sahel States[2]. According to the communiqué final of the summit, the former military Alliance of the Sahel States has…

Global diplomatic shortage?

From the EU-27 to the US to India, foreign services are chronically understaffed. Beyond resignations of current diplomatic staff for a variety of reasons, youth interest specifically towards the public sector and diplomacy seems to be declining, while political apathy appears to be on the rise. This begs the question as to whether there is…

The Fragile Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti

In a matter of days, an earthquake and a tropical storm (Grace) hit one of the poorest Caribbean islands, leading to at least 2,400 deaths and over 13.000 serious injuries. It is estimated that more than 130,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 600.000 Haitians were impacted. However, these last natural disasters are just part…

Surveillance camera gathering intelligence

Keep Your Friends Close: Washington Spies on NATO Partners

The US National Security Agency (NSA) used a partnership with Denmark’s foreign intelligence unit to spy on citizens of the European Union, Danish state broadcaster DR said. According to the investigation, which covered the period from 2012 to 2014, the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on citizens of Sweden, Norway, France and Germany….

US – Iran Geopolitical Cataclysm has Weakened International Law, Global Governance, and International Cooperation

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, began his first 2020 press conference with the following words: “The New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times. Geopolitical tensions are at their highest level this century.” His words brought me back to my January 2014 visit to the provincial city…

Deadly blasts hit Turkey

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, was hit on Saturday, 10 October by two deadly blasts leaving 95 people dead and 245 injured. A pro-Kurdish political party, whose members were among those killed in the blasts, puts the death toll at 128, 120 of whom allegedly have already been identified.

VWgate: CEO Winterkorn resigns

Economy , Analysis , Foreign Affairs , Environment
24 September, 2015

German car manufacturer Volkswagen cheated on diesel engines to meet environmental standards…

Different approaches to the refugee crisis

The refugee crisis has revealed rifts among EU member states trying to cope with the influx of asylum seekers who hope to make their way to the wealthier parts of Europe. EU leaders are acting in very different ways: some, albeit very few, are taking the humanitarian high ground, while others are either cherry-picking which refugees are permitted to enter their countries or closing their borders altogether.

Record number of migrants at EU borders

Frontex released on Tuesday, 18 August, its latest data regarding the number of migrants registered at EU borders. The influx of migrants has skyrocketed, reaching a record high of 107,500 persons in July.