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Geopolitics

Geopolitics: wars, alliances, sanctions, trade and the decisions between governments that shape the world.

1271 articles · page 15 of 27

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Geopolitics

Argentina warns it will stop Falklands oil exploitation, foreign minister tells UK ambassador

Argentina's foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, has told an audience that included the British ambassador that his government will prevent the Falkland Islands from exploiting offshore oilfields as part of a peaceful strategy to assert sovereignty over the disputed territory. Speaking at a thinktank event in Buenos Aires, Quirno condemned the UK for refusing to negotiate and for facilitating the Sea Lion oil project in the North Falkland Basin.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

Alleged terror plot near RAF Fairford deepens US, Iran tensions

Six men arrested over an alleged terror plot near the British airbase RAF Fairford have been released on bail, as Britain tries to support the United States without being drawn directly into its war with Iran. Prime Minister Andy Burnham cited strong indications of Iranian involvement; Tehran denies any role, while US President Donald Trump says Washington knows the people behind the threat and has ordered US bombers moved out of the UK.

Geopolitics

Russian gold floods Hong Kong as sanctions redraw global bullion trade

Russian gold is flooding into Hong Kong at a record pace, with imports in the first seven months of 2026 already surpassing the previous annual record, as Western sanctions reroute bullion once bound for London toward China and other Asian markets. Hong Kong imported 112.7 tonnes of Russian-origin gold between January and July, according to precious metals investment firm BullionVault's analysis of Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department data, up from 92.1 tonnes in all of 2025 and just 3.3 tonnes in 2021.

Geopolitics

North Korea's Ukraine Deployment: Heavy Casualties Raise Questions About Kim's Strategy

Four years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has sent an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region since October 2024, suffering roughly 6,000 casualties, according to intelligence from South Korea and the United Kingdom. The deployment, which has no direct connection to Pyongyang's national interests in Ukraine, has prompted questions about what Kim Jong Un hopes to gain from the sacrifice.

Geopolitics

Trump confirms 'threat' led to withdrawal of B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford

President Donald Trump has confirmed the United States withdrew its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in England because of a specific threat to the base. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said 'they didn't fly out by accident' and that Washington 'actually knows the people that made the threat'. The Pentagon had confirmed on Sunday that about a dozen bombers had been redeployed to their home stations in the US after a week of heightened security following the arrest of five men near the airbase on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.

· 4 sources
Geopolitics

China stockpiled 343 advanced chipmaking tools, report finds, as export control debate intensifies

Chinese chipmakers have accumulated an estimated 343 immersion DUV lithography tools from ASML since 2012, many capable of producing 7nm-class chips, according to a report from the Centre for Technology and Statecraft, a Washington-based research group. The finding underscores the limits of existing export controls and has renewed calls for stricter regulations on semiconductor equipment sales to China.

Geopolitics

Okinawa governor says US military discipline 'has not worked at all' as new measures imposed after Marine's arrest

Okinawa Governor Genta Koja told Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday that past disciplinary measures by the US military “have not worked at all”, as the island reels from the alleged murder of a local woman by a US Marine. Hours earlier, the US military in Okinawa announced a 48-hour stand-down of all operations and a 30-day period of curfew and alcohol restrictions for troops.

· 5 sources
Geopolitics

Japan looks to establish first centralised intelligence agency since WWII amid China tensions

Japan is moving to create its first centralised intelligence network since World War II, with plans to establish an independent foreign intelligence agency similar to the United States' CIA. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has described strengthening intelligence capabilities as a matter of the utmost urgency, citing the military build-up of China and North Korea, enhanced cooperation between China and Russia, and a rise in cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.

Geopolitics

Yemen Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis as Iran Signals Readiness for War

Yemen's governing council has announced the start of major military operations to retake territory held by Iran-backed Houthi forces, as the army reported 474 attacks in 24 hours that killed or wounded 1,540 Houthi fighters. The escalation comes as Iran's foreign minister stated that Tehran is ready to return to war with the United States, though he argued there is no military solution to the conflict.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

US Bombers Withdrawn from RAF Fairford Amid New Iran Threat Reports

The United States has withdrawn all of its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, a move Downing Street insists reflects standard operational security rather than a failure of base safety. The Pentagon confirmed the withdrawal on Sunday, stating the aircraft had returned to their home stations in the United States. The decision follows a major security incident on 27 September and fresh reports of an Iran-backed plot against the base.

· 6 sources
Geopolitics

Former diplomats warn US-Iran conflict heading toward escalation, not peace

Former Iranian and US diplomats involved in past nuclear negotiations argue the current conflict between the United States and Iran is more likely to escalate than reach a peace deal or even a permanent stalemate, according to comments on an Al Jazeera program. Former Iranian diplomat Hossein Mousavian and former US diplomat Alan Eyre said they do not see the war heading toward resolution soon, with Eyre noting the Trump administration favors quick victories and is pushing regional allies to take the lead rather than pursuing direct US diplomatic engagement.

Geopolitics

Yemen government announces offensive to retake Houthi-held territory as rebels cut vital supply route

Yemen's Saudi-backed government has announced a sweeping military offensive to reclaim all territory held by the Houthi rebel group, even as the insurgents cut a key supply route to the besieged city of Taiz and launched missile attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities. The contradictory developments highlight the precarious position of the internationally recognised government, which has struggled to counter a recent Houthi surge.

· 2 sources
Geopolitics

Yemen's government declares all-out war to reclaim all Houthi-held territory

Yemen's internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government has declared an all-out military campaign to retake every area held by the Houthi militia, a move that appears to close the door on any negotiated truce in the country's long-running civil war. The announcement followed an exchange of strikes between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition and a Houthi offensive that seized Yemen's Red Sea coast.

· 7 sources
Geopolitics

Queen's University Belfast urges staff to review China partnerships after MI5 espionage warning

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) has asked staff to review existing and proposed collaborations with a Chinese research institute after MI5 warned it is a front for the Chinese Ministry of State Security. The UK internal security service said the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI) has "very strong ties" to Chinese intelligence and that more than 100 UK-linked academics had contributed to projects it funded, in some cases without knowing the institute's role.

· 2 sources