Geography and Resources Articles

Ethiopia’s construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile River is creating serious tension among Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Egypt fears that the dam’s large storage will put control of Nile water in the hands of upstream Ethiopia, and has tried unsuccessfully to deter Ethiopia from completing the project. Meanwhile, Sudan has sided with Ethiopia, heightening uncertainty in Cairo. more

Since 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sought to revive Persian nationalism, contrasting it with the clerical elite’s claim to Islam as the basis of Iranian identity. Significantly, Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric was accompanied by concerted outreach to Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the geolinguistic remnants of Greater Persia. Despite the historical echoes, the effort is driven by strategic interests. more

On June 26, Mongolians will go to the polls to elect their next president, with incumbent Tsakhia Elbegdorj predicted to return to office with a renewed mandate. The election's outcome will have significant international implications. Mongolia's continued growth remains uncertain due to an overdependence on the global commodity market and investor concerns about rampant corruption and pegged contracts. more

The Philippine Coast Guard opened fire on a Taiwanese fishing vessel two weeks ago, killing a Taiwanese fisherman and provoking a diplomatic deadlock between the Philippines and Taiwan in a period of growing tensions over disputed waters in the region. more

China's recent incursion into Indian territory along their disputed border in eastern Kashmir brings to the fore the unpredictability of Chinese foreign policy implementation and Beijing's frequent recourse to low-level aggression. Despite a general trend toward deepening cooperation between China and India, the incident lowers hopes that China's new leadership will clear up uncertainty in bilateral relations. more

Taiwan and Japan recently signed an important East China Sea fishing rights agreement after 17 years of negotiations. The deal represents a striking concession from Japan and is a good policy outcome for the government in Taiwan. President Ma Ying-jeou has successfully reminded Japan that Taiwan cannot be ignored, while avoiding irritating Washington. The least satisfied party affected by the deal will be China. more

When U.S. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto met in Mexico City yesterday, among the wide range of issues they discussed was the status of the Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement. Despite the economic and energy security benefits it promises to both sides, the agreement has been stalled in the U.S. for more than a year. Further delay on the agreement makes little sense. more

In an email interview, Wyn Grant, a political scientist at the University of Warwick with research interests in agricultural policy and the European Union, explained the main reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy adopted by the European Council last month and how they will be implemented. more

Later this month, representatives from Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the United States will meet in Washington, DC to discuss a possible accord that would regulate commercial fishing near the North Pole. more

Africa’s relatively rapid growth rates, improved fiscal and debt management and improving political stability are forming an image of a “rising Africa” ripe for international investment. And despite remaining high risks, global investors increasingly find Africa’s potential returns compelling. But the looming question is whether Africa’s growth spurt and related investor interest are sustainable. more

Turkey and Israel are moving toward reconciliation at the same time that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has declared a cease-fire in its armed struggle with the Turkish state. Combined, the two developments have paved the way for Ankara to achieve its longstanding goal of becoming a regional energy transit hub, but ongoing disputes with Cyprus and Iraq mean that further progress remains uncertain. more

Tension is rapidly accelerating in Antarctic affairs on a range of issues, all of them relating to sovereignty and resources, putting increased pressure on the Antarctic Treaty that has governed the continent and Southern Ocean since 1961. At the time it was drafted, the treaty represented an innovative approach to defusing potential tensions over sovereignty arising in Antarctica. It now looks like an antiquated gentleman’s agreement desperately in need of reform. more

On March 5, the pro-Western government coalition in Moldova collapsed, compounding the significant difficulties already facing the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. After a period of positive momentum over the past two years, negotiations have stalled and optimism has dissipated. But the challenges must be confronted if the two-decade conflict between Moldova and Transnistria is to be resolved. more

The crisis in Borneo, which has seen the incursion of rebel fighters from the Philippine island of Sulu into Malaysia, is a stark reminder that Southeast Asia remains engulfed in unresolved territorial disputes. Malaysia, which has been deeply involved in such conflicts as a stakeholder and a mediator, is now presented with a thorny domestic security challenge that also has implications for its regional role. more

Southeast Asia’s largest state and ASEAN’s de facto leader, Indonesia has long served as a linchpin of regional order. More recently, Jakarta’s status has risen as concern over China has led countries to strengthen ties with Indonesia. Yet China’s assertiveness directly threatens Indonesian interests. As a result, Indonesia has found it increasingly difficult to play its traditional mediating role within ASEAN. more

Duncan Brack, an expert on illegal logging at Chatham House, explained the scope of the problem and efforts to curb it in an email interview. more

In an email interview, John E. Noyes, a professor of international law and the law of the sea at California Western School of Law, explained the significance of the move and how international tribunals for maritime disputes generally operate. more

For the first time, Colombia’s civil society has been invited to contribute to peace negotiations between the government and FARC rebels, with the discussion focused on the root cause of the country’s war: land reform. A recent U.N.-sponsored forum has the potential to give the peace process legitimacy in the eyes of a public that, after 50 years of conflict, remains skeptical of negotiations. more

The Arctic is melting faster than anyone predicted, increasing regional shipping and energy exploration beneath the frigid waters. But in spite of these trends, the Arctic probably won’t become a bustling hub of commercial activity anytime soon. Setting realistic expectations for the region will pay dividends to U.S. policymakers charged with figuring out how to protect America’s Arctic interests. more

After a year of intense diplomatic brinkmanship over the management of maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Cambodia passed the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the tiny kingdom of Brunei. Despite Brunei’s size and penchant for low-key diplomacy, there are reasons to expect a relatively more constructive and decisive ASEAN leadership under its leadership this year. more

Relations with Taiwan might not be high on the list of priorities for incoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, given the dismal state of the Japanese economy. However, continued tensions with Beijing could make Taipei a valuable partner for Tokyo. Yet it’s uncertain whether Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s Kuomintang government will be receptive to opportunities to improve relations with Japan. more