Executive Summary “Dark shipping” practices weaken the effectiveness of economic sanctions and create significant environmental, humanitarian, and geopolitical risks. The “shadow fleet” transported approximately 3.7 billion barrels of oil in 2025, representing nearly 7 percent of global crude oil flows. These vessels allow sanctioned countries to circumvent sanctions, preserve billions of dollars in export revenue, … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Russia
UNCLOS and Arctic Seabed Competition: Does U.S. Non-Ratification Strengthen or Weaken Its Position Relative to Russia?
Executive Summary: U.S. non-ratification of UNCLOS preserves regulatory autonomy by avoiding key obligations under Article 82 and the International Seabed Authority (ISA), including revenue-sharing requirements for extended continental shelf exploitation and deep-seabed mining. However, non-ratification prevents the United States from submitting Arctic continental shelf claims to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf … Continue reading
Economic Sanctions – Modern Tool Against Modern War?
Introduction Economic sanctions represent one of the most widely used instruments in international relationships for various social, political and military concerns. They can be imposed by one country (unilateral sanction) or group of multiple countries (multilateral sanction) against other country (or regime) to express their disapproval of the regime and deter the unacceptable behavior. However, … Continue reading
Central Asia / China / Dpt. of State / Europe / Europe / Foreign Policy / Iran / Middle East / National Security / Presidential Race 2016 / Russia / Sanctions
Clinton’s Secretary of State Shortlist Reveals Her Foreign Policy
The Clinton transition team recently leaked its shortlist for Secretary of State. While media attention has solely focused on Vice President Joe Biden’s appearance on the list, the rest of the list reveals what a potential Clinton administration’s foreign policy might entail. Based on her shortlist, Clinton has Russian aggression and European stability on … Continue reading
Politicking National Security: A Hack Job
In case you missed it, a presidential candidate invited a foreign government to break into either a private citizen’s email account and steal information or break into the servers at the United States Department of State. I am in a state of disbelief. These were his words (with my editorial comments in parentheses): Russia, if … Continue reading
In Space Everyone Can Hear You Compete
After years of fighting, the Senate has reached a compromise regarding the use of Russian rocket engines for U.S. military space launches. The agreement lifts the ban implemented in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act until 2022, after which the Pentagon can no longer issue launch contracts to firms using Russian made rockets. “Firms,” … Continue reading
Can Bitcoin Challenge Hyperinflation?
In the economy of a nation, few things can be as devastating as hyperinflation. But as internet access and mobile phones continue to rapidly expand throughout the developing world, they are setting up a natural infrastructure for Bitcoin. Given time to develop and mature as a global ecosystem, Bitcoin could become an alternative to a … Continue reading
On Ukraine: US Strength is Putin’s Demise
Since the collapse of the USSR, Russia has felt backed into a corner and neglected by the international community and, indeed, has been. First, there was the quick snatching-up of post USSR states into the EU with no chance of admission for Russia. Next, there was the absolute refusal of Russian integrity by NATO, and … Continue reading
Dpt. of State / Europe / Events / Foreign Policy / National Security / Politics / Russia / Sanctions / UN
Ukraine: The New Cold War Battleground
Tensions in Ukraine have been running high since ousted president Viktor Yanukovych brokered an economic deal with Russia in November, spurring month-long protests that eventually led to the overthrow of the government. A new, pro-West Ukrainian government was installed last week, naming Oleksandr Turchinov as president and opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk as prime minister until … Continue reading
The Ripple Effects of Obama’s Disastrous Syria Policy
Nearly everyone, regardless of personal political beliefs, will agree that President Obama’s stance(s) on Syria has been perplexing. Syria’s conflict began back in March 2011 as a popular uprising during the Arab Spring. As the conflict transformed into a civil war, rumblings grew for international intervention. On August 20, 2012, Obama stated that his red … Continue reading
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