The New Silk Road

Taliban comments that Beijing is their main partner appear more aspirational than a confirmation of significant Chinese advances in Afghanistan.

As it awaits the rise of the ultimate power bearer in Afghanistan, Islamabad will focus on preventing violence that poses a serious threat to Chinese investments.

Australia’s federalist system and the need to maintain trade and investment flows will limit attempts to shape Beijing’s economic footprint in the country.

Tehran will aim to balance increased cooperation with Beijing by pursuing sanctions relief from the U.S. and overall deeper ties with Western countries.

The move shows the White House remains committed to its security and economic engagements in the region, with an eye on countering China and Russia.

The overnight seizure of government buildings cast doubt over President Jeenbekov’s continued rule, but the crisis is unlikely to shift the country’s overall policy direction.

The IMF’s announced $1 billion disbursement will help fill some of Angola’s financing gaps, though there is clearly a market view that the country may still require more comprehensive debt restructuring.

As COVID-19 forces the EU to remain focused on recovering (and not enlarging) its economy, candidate countries such as Serbia risk veering away from the reforms they had been pursuing to earn their place in the bloc.

Fear is spreading faster than the coronavirus in Europe, complicating EU relations with China, the bloc's second-most important trading partner.