Geopolitics

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Shephard Media: Procurement struggles and stretched resources hinder Guatemala

"Procurement struggles and stretched resources hinder Guatemala"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Shephard Media
Defence Notes
15 July, 2020
Originally published: https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/premium-procurement-struggles-and-stretched-resour/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=auto_post&utm_campaign=news_promo

Lacking hefty procurement budgets, small Central American countries are struggling to fulfil their defence equipment acquisition ambitions – and the situation is only likely to worsen once the ramifications of COVID-19 become clearer.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Diplomatic Courier: Central Asia and China in the Post-Pandemic World

"Central Asia and China in the Post-Pandemic World"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Diplomatic Courier
July 2, 2020

Originally Published: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/central-asia-and-china-in-the-post-pandemic-world

Much has been hypothesized about how Coronavirus will affect global geopolitics. As the global economy halts, policymakers focus on internal affairs more than international issues, nations enter into recessions, unemployment soars, and borders are reopening at a snail’s pace. The future of the relationship between Central Asian states and China will remain complex due to overlapping issues including ever-important trade and investment, geopolitical ambitions, and security interests.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Geopolitical Monitor: "Soldiers of Peace: A Peruvian Blue Helmet in MINUSCA"

"Soldiers of Peace: A Peruvian Blue Helmet in MINUSCA"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Opinion
Geopolitical Monitor
June 19, 2020
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/soldiers-of-peace-a-peruvian-blue-helmet-in-minusca/

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) is a critical player in the affairs of the African nation, which faces internal instability due to several rebel movements, in addition to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One of the contributing nations to MINUSCA is the Republic of Peru, which has a long history of participation in peacekeeping operations (PKOs).

In an exclusive interview with the author, Captain Jessica Chuquisengo Acosta of the Peruvian Army, explains the activities of the Peruvian engineering company (Compañía de Ingeniería Perú) that currently operates in MINUSCA, and the operations female peacekeepers carry out in particular.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Geopolitcal Monitor: Ecuagoldmining v Ecuador: Mining, the Environment, and International Arbitration

"Ecuagoldmining v Ecuador: Mining, the Environment, and International Arbitration"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez and Lucia Scripcari
Situation Reports
Geopolitical Monitor
June 4, 2020
Originally published: https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/ecuagoldmining-v-ecuador-mining-the-environment-and-international-arbitration/

The Chinese-owned mining company Ecuagoldmining has notified the government of Ecuador its intention to begin an arbitration process if the two sides cannot negotiate a solution on the status of a major mining operation that has been halted for almost two years due to local protests and local judicial decisions.

At first glance, this appears to be a standard investor-state dispute, particularly as protests against mining operations in developing states are quite common. Nevertheless, there are several factors at play that make this case worthy of greater analysis, including the size of the award that Ecuagoldmining is requesting, as well as Ecuador’s complex situation in international arbitration nowadays after leaving the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and terminating most of its Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs).

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