The Diplomatic Envoy

Geopolitics

September 2022Eastern EuropeInternational News

Fighting Along Azerbaijan-Armenia Border Leaves Over 100 Dead

On September 12, more than 100 people were killed when fighting erupted along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border surrounding the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, reports The Washington Post. In a series of attacks by “heavy artillery, drones, and large-caliber weapons,” Azerbaijan attacked Armenian troops along the border in response to what they claimed were military provocations from Armenia, according to the United Nations.

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September 2022Eastern EuropeInternational NewsConflict and Security

Ukraine Deals Russia Major Blow with Significant Counter-Offensive

Beginning September 10, Ukrainian forces launched a significant counter-offensive against Russia, recapturing many cities and marking a major shift in the conflict, reports Reuters. During the past five months of the war, Russia captured 20 percent of  Ukrainian territory. However, Ukraine regained those northeastern territories in a surprise offensive that caught the Russians off guard.

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February 2022FocusSports Geopolitics2022

FOCUS on Sports Geopolitics: The Olympics

Those who follow sports in some way will know that politics always get involved no matter how much fans wish otherwise. As has been shown this year, domestic and international politics have characterized the Olympic Games, as the most international and inherently political non-political event there is. With the 2022 Beijing games ongoing, it is worth remembering that the Olympics’ thrust into political spotlights isn’t new.

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February 2022FocusSports Geopolitics2022

FOCUS on Sports Geopolitics: Sportswashing

Saudi Arabia recently made headlines in the sporting world with its purchase of a stake in the English Premier League club Newcastle United as part of their Public Investment Fund, according to NPR. This fund, which is owned by the Saudi Arabian government, ended up purchasing an 80% stake of Newcastle United for 300 million pounds, the equivalent of $400 million. 

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February 2022FocusSports Geopolitics2022

FOCUS on Sports Geopolitics: The Qatar World Cup

The 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar, an oil-rich Persian Gulf country eager to showcase its stadiums and landmarks as the first Arab nation to hold the tournament. Despite its wealthy aesthetic, human rights organizations and journalists have discovered via whistleblowers that Qatari authorities have overlooked human rights abuses of migrant workers brought to construct facilities for the event. 

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February 2022FocusSports Geopolitics2022

FOCUS on Sports Geopolitics: The Disappearance of Peng Shuai

In a recent interview with L’Equipe, Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai announced her retirement and retracted her sexual assault allegation against a high ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The interview marked Peng’s first contact with a foreign publication since posting her initial accusation against Zhang Gaoli on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform.

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2021WorldMay 2021Analysis

Vaccine Diplomacy: Who is Leading the Race?

As countries across the globe are racing vaccinate their populations, vaccine diplomacy has now become a key component of geopolitics. Several countries such as China, Russia, and India are engaging in vaccine diplomacy. This new diplomacy tool will have a substantial impact, given the unequal global distribution of vaccines.

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