The political situation in Kosovo grew more complicated as the deadline approached for agreeing on a statute to define its future. Intense debate is guaranteed because whatever solution is agreed for Kosovo’s status will serve as a precedent for similar cases in Europe and elsewhere.
This paper provides an overview of the economic, regulatory and geopolitical implications of the trend towards a greater natural gas import dependency of the major natural gas markets and the potential for LNG. It is based on a presentation by the author on 15 October 2007 in the 7th working meeting of the Elcano Royal Institute’s energy group in Gijón (Spain).
This analysis is based on a game theory model which assumes the premise that the behaviour of Jihadist groups (taken generally, and al-Qaeda in particular) and of States is rational and responds to strategic choices. It begins with an introduction to the context which situates Spain and global Jihadist groups on opposing sides of the game board of strategic interests.
The results of Taiwan’s parliamentary elections on 12 January and presidential elections scheduled for 22 March should have a significant impact on the island’s relations with China.
With a narrower field of candidates after ‘Super Tuesday’, observers will now be able to focus more on what a McCain, Clinton or Obama presidency would mean in foreign affairs.
This paper argues that the Jihadi culture of Fatah al-Islam is an appropriated and non-traditional culture which must be defended at all costs by its followers precisely because it is an artificial entity.
While the Spanish-US economic relationship arguably remains relatively underdeveloped, our tentative conclusion is that the impact on the bilateral economic relationship of the Aznar-Zapatero gyrations in Spain’s political relationship with the US has proved relatively insignificant and is likely to remain marginal in the future
The Spanish Government’s new policy on Gibraltar implies once again lending importance to the idea, based on proximity, cooperation and dialogue with all parties involved (including the Gibraltarians and their leaders), of aiming to remove distrust and create an adequate climate for reaching agreements, without impositions, but also without relinquishing the notion of recovering sovereignty.
The death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat begins a new era, say politicians, experts and analysts around the world. Most of the hundreds if not thousands of comments published in recent weeks agree that his passing could at least make it possible to reopen the window of opportunity brusquely closed so many times before (some even consider it ‘a great doorway opened wide’). Indeed, the window is open a crack, but instead of the breeze of hope that many predict and desire, the winds of war could well blow again, closing the window for the umpteenth time if the leaders of both sides and the powers involved do not act coherently
The deceleration of the Mexican economy, which began in 2001 due to the sharp drop in activity in the US market –producing negative GDP growth of 0.1%–, was followed by two years of stagnation during which the Mexican economy achieved a significant degree of stability.
The recent end to the EU arms embargo on Libya, announced in Luxemburg on 11 October, has raised new speculation as to a similar measure with respect to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The country’s armed forces have been undergoing a comprehensive modernisation process over the past decade, but they will not close the technology gap with more advanced countries (something of an embarrassment for an upcoming power) without foreign support.