Between Sea and Strategy By Mehmet Enes Beşer In a more divided world in which global power balances are changing, and regional tensions are mounting, Japan again stands at a strategy fork. The decision it faces is both of the past and of the present: Will it adhere to an increasingly outdated security framework rooted in neo-realist power politics, or ...
The increased rivalry between Washington and Beijing, particularly on the technological and military arenas, can potentially cause more economic disruption. By Mehmet Enes Beşer The rekindled US-China tensions once more left Australia in a delicate economic position. A nation deeply engaged with both superpowers—strategically aligned with Washington but economically with Beijing—Australia is faced with a sour dilemma endangering its long-term ...
Economic Pressures and Enacting Reforms By Mehmet Enes Beşer In January 2024, Papua New Guinea (PNG) was rocked by mass civil unrest, as riots erupted in the national capital of Port Moresby and spread to other towns. The immediate cause was an instantaneous reduction in the pay of public servants, attributed by the government to a “technical glitch” in the ...
Persistent Challenges By Mehmet Enes Beşer The Solomon Islands, a Pacific island country, has long suffered a myriad of socio-economic and political issues. The country is at a critical juncture today under new leadership, where emerging challenges have to be overcome by comprehensive and masterminded solutions. The current paper expounds the key challenges for the Solomon Islands and avenues towards ...
Motivations, challenges and future trajectories. By Mehmet Enes Beşer The global geopolitical landscape is undergoing significant transformations, prompting regional blocs like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reassess their strategic alignments. A notable development in this context is the deepening engagement between ASEAN member states and the BRICS consortium—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This evolving ...
Posted by by United World International 15 Min Read March 25, 2025 By Mehmet Enes Beşer The recent formalization of a comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea marks a significant shift in East Asia’s geopolitical dynamics. This alliance, encompassing mutual defense commitments and extensive military cooperation, introduces new complexities to the regional security landscape, particularly concerning Japan’s strategic ...
The Pragmatic Middle Ground: Navigating Superpower Pressures By Mehmet Enes Beşer Malaysia follows a complex and highly challenging foreign policy as it strives to balance economic relations with China while maintaining strategic cooperation with the United States, particularly concerning sovereignty claims and regional security in the South China Sea. This balancing act is shaped by Malaysia’s geopolitical dynamics and national ...
A perspective from China and the region’s countries. By Orçun Göktürk, Beijing / China Donald Trump’s return to the White House could reshape the balance in Southeast Asia. The revival of the Trump administration’s “Indo-Pacific” strategy carries significant risks not only for China but also for other regional countries. For traditional US allies like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India, a stronger ...
By Orçun Göktürk * The US Secretary of State Blinken was in Beijing for a two-day visit. The scheduled visit in February of this year was postponed due to the “spy balloon” controversy at that time. The first high-level visit by the US administration in almost five years was greeted with “low-level protocol” from the Chinese government. Blinken was welcomed ...
By Orçun Göktürk The 20th Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore from June 2 to 4, revealed important clues about US strategy for NATO expansion in the Asia-Pacific. Originally Chinese, the word Shangri-La means “heaven on earth” or “utopia”. Some have called the meeting “Asia’s Munich Security Summit”. The organizer is the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a London-based “think ...