Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Global South strategic cooperation

I do think this is happening. We are going to have to wait a little more, but the economics integration between China and Vietnam may eventually look like that between US and Mexico


More on China's embrace of Africa in recent times and Hunan's role in this.

So China is doing another naval exercise with Iran and Russia near Chabahar. Will China support Iran during the new maximum pressure campaign by Trump, or obey American sanctions again like last time? Without Chinese support, will Iran be forced to negotiate with Trump?

Sinopec refinery in Sri Lanka will be inaugurated soon


Bangladesh interim leader is visiting China later this month

This is wonderful. China is building a teaching hospital in Burkina Faso to help develop a generation of local physicians.

Bangladesh media reporting Chinese transfer of small-arms technology to local factories.

The research paper states that Beijing has transferred technology to Bangladesh Ordnance Factories and Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Ltd for small and medium-sized weapons such as rifles, rocket launchers, manpads, light utility vehicles, etc, which helps to achieve the goal of building a domestic defence industrial base.

Click to expand...

so right after China did an exercise in the Gulf of Oman with Russia and Iran

We saw 3 separate articles on China's efforts in Indian Ocean from MSM from WSJ and Bloomberg




Seems like the deep state putting pressure on the Indians.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

The decision to sell the canal was driven primarily by geopolitical concerns, as the South China Morning Post:

CK Hutchison Holdings’ decision to sell its port operations in the Panama Canal and elsewhere is to mitigate against geopolitical risks even though it framed it as a purely commercial move, analysts and sources said, urging Hong Kong’s other major companies to also prepare for unparalleled global uncertainties.

Click to expand...

From a geopolitical perspective, the deal represents a victory for the Trump administration and a setback for China’s belt-and-road ambitions given that some 6% of global trade passes through the Panama Canal.


Same situation for Central America, where US seeks to lock Mexico into a spiralling loop of dependence.

While Mexico’s exports to China are negligible, representing just over 2% of the total, a chill on diplomatic and commercial relations with China will mean even greater dependence on the big neighbour to the North as well as loss of influence in the Global South, which is just how Washington wants it.

Click to expand...

However, Peru, Argentina and Brazil continue their sino tilt.

“China is a very interesting trading partner,”

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Javier Milei, who just a year earlier had described the Chinese government as as “assassin.” They “do not make demands, the only thing they ask is that they not be bothered.”

Click to expand...

On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump ordered the first airstrike of his presidency, against alleged senior Islamic State commanders in northern Somalia.
The US is in the process of increasing its presence in Somalia with an eye towards a battle over Red Sea shipping.:

It is a clear indication of the growing geopolitical significance of the Horn of

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

, and comes at a time of mounting concerns (mostly attempts by Yemen’s Houthis to

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza) about securing the flow of international commerce via the Red Sea.

Click to expand...

getting a on Somalia and Somaliland:

Rather than accept Djibouti’s position, foreign policy experts have sought to escalate tensions, blaming Djibouti for being pro-Houthi and pro-China. Hoping to find a more reliable partner, many propose that the United States recognize and work with Somaliland instead. Somaliland is an unrecognized state that asserted its independence from Somalia in 1991. Close to Yemen and next Somalia, it seems Somaliland offers everything Djibouti has with no strings attached. Project 2025

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

“the recognition of Somaliland statehood as a hedge against the U.S.’s deteriorating position in Djibouti.”

Click to expand...

Again, the Trump administration is just ramping up existing US policy. Last year, the US signed a deal with the government of Somalia to construct up to five military bases for the Somali National Army in the name of bolstering the army’s capabilities in the ongoing fight against militant groups. The bases are intended for the , a U.S.-sponsored Special Ops Force that was established in 2014.

The US at first funded Danab from the State Department, which contracted with private security firm Bancroft Global. More recently, funding comes from the Pentagon’s proxy war fund called the

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

, which bypasses congressional oversight by allowing US special operations forces to use foreign military units as surrogates in counterterrorism missions.

Click to expand...