The Wagner Group: Origins and Early Deployments
First in a two-part series, this backgrounder traces the origins and earliest deployments of Russia’s infamous mercenary outfit: the Wagner Group.
The Illicit Trade Of Small Arms
The international effort to combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons faces numerous challenges, the most notable of which is globalisation itself.
Will the UK Sign a Free Trade Agreement with China?
Just how likely is it that a recently unfettered United Kingdom will negotiate a free trade agreement with China?
Backgrounder: Ethnic Armies in Myanmar Civil War
A run-down of ethnic armies in Myanmar, along with other organizations and militias currently engaged in the civil war.
al-Shabab in Somalia
Two major developments occurred in Somalia last week: a merger between the Ras Kamboni Brigade and al-Shabab, and al-Shabab’s long-suspected but hitherto unmade declaration of open alliance with Al Qaeda. Both do not bode well for the survival of the beleaguered Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu.
The Origins of the Maoist Movement in India
The Geopoliticalmonitor's V.Balasubramaniyan explores the evolution and present composition of the Maoist movement in India.
The Rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
First in a two-part series, this backgrounder explores the rise of one of the most well-funded, organized, and militarily effective jihadist groups of all time.
PMC Redut: The Wagner Group’s Potential Replacement
PMC Redut – a GRU-controlled PMC – is well-placed to emerge as the primary beneficiary of Wagner's fall from grace.
The Death of Pakistan-American Relations
Pakistan-American relations lie in uncharted territories. Rumblings from both capitals suggest that the two long-time allies are on the verge of a historic rupture – possibly heralding a seismic shift in America’s foreign policy in the Persian Gulf and ushering in a realignment of allegiances in the region.
Backgrounder: China Economy Year in Review
China’s state authorities are projecting confidence as they hope for a rebound, but the structural contradictions that thwarted economic growth in 2023 still loom large over the year to come.