The Diplomat: What’s in Kazakhstan’s 2025 Development Plan?

 

"What’s in Kazakhstan’s 2025 Development Plan"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Crossroads Asia

The Diplomat

23 March, 2021

Originally published: https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/whats-in-kazakhstans-2025-development-plan/

On the road to 2050, Nur-Sultan aims to diversify its economy and develop new industries.

 The government of Kazakhstan recently released its National Development Plan Through 2025, which complements the government’s primary objective of becoming one of the world’s 30 most developed nations by 2050.

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Journal: Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration

 "Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Cuadernos Iberoamericanos

Vol. 8, No. 3, 2020

Originally published: https://doi.org/10.46272/2409-3416-2020-8-3-10-23

Abstract

Brazil has historically been regarded as the natural leader of Latin America, given its level of development, the size of its economy, its military might and its ambitious foreign policy. This image was cemented during the presidencies of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, who supported Latin American integration (particularly via the creation of such blocs as UNASUR and CELAC) and diminishing Washington’s historical influence in the Western Hemisphere. However, the situation has dramatically changed with the rise to power of President Jair Bolsonaro, a staunch supporter of the US in general (and President Donald Trump in particular), which has affected Brazil’s role in the region. Based upon the analysis of specific domestic and foreign policy components, the author draws conclusions on how Brazil’s prospects as a participant (or even the key motivator) in the transformation processes in the region have changed. Brazil is no longer perceived as the axis of attempts at regional integration, but rather “just another separate state” taking care of its own interests. Brazil’s economic crisis and Bolsonaro’s strategy (or the lack thereof) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected Brazil’s image even further. Then again, as this analysis seeks to demonstrate, Latin America has a mixed record when it comes to integration attempts, as regional governments are zealous guardians of national sovereignty. Hence, while there have been some successful regional thrivings towards promoting cooperation, the rise of some supranationalist organization similar to the European Union – is a dream. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as Latin American (and Caribbean) blocs do not need supranationalism to be effective, but it shows the limits of regional integration initiatives.

Keywords

Brazil, Latin America, Caribbean, South-South cooperation, geopolitics, supranationalism, integration

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For citation:

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Sánchez W.A. Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration. Cuadernos Iberoamericanos. 2020;8(3):10-23. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46272/2409-3416-2020-8-3-10-23

 

Shephard Media: PREMIUM: Lingering economic problems constrain Argentine ambitions

 

"PREMIUM: Lingering economic problems constrain Argentine ambitions"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Defence Notes

Shephard Media

Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/premium-lingering-economic-problems-constrain-arge/

The latest defence procurement plan for 2021-2023 includes only limited new programmes for the Argentine armed forces.

Official data shows the ratio of debt to GDP in Argentina exceeded 100% in 2020 as economic activity slumped by 10%, due partly to the COVID-19 pandemic but also because of structural problems dating back decades.

Against this backdrop, the government only included modest new acquisitions for the armed forces ...

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Shephard Media: "Colombia leans on COTECMAR in uncertain times"

 

"Colombia leans on COTECMAR in uncertain times"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Naval Warfare

Shephard Media

9 March, 2021

Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/premium-colombia-leans-cotecmar-uncertain-times/

 

 Shipbuilder COTECMAR plays a major role in ongoing and planned Colombian naval programmes, although the fate of a plan to build up to eight new frigates remains unclear.

Colombia is continuing to focus on utilising domestic industry to meet its future naval requirements, with shipbuilding corporation COTECMAR forming the cornerstone of this strategy.

However, the best laid plans may yet go awry as the Colombian government continues to digest the economic impact of COVID-19.

Most recently, on 22 ...

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