The investment and security deal currently being negotiated between Beijing and Tehran has provoked fears in the Indian media that China is trying to drive India out of Iran. But, in this essay for The National Interest, I argue that India’s Iranian investments are failing due to US sanctions, not Chinese expansionism.
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What do US-Iran Talks Mean for Afghanistran?
The US and Iran have been holding quiet talks. That is good news for Afghanistan, I explain here.
Taliban Bounties in Afghanistan
My latest piece, available here, looks at allegations that Russia paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to target US and coalition forces.
US-China Rivalry in Israel
My latest essay looks at the escalating rivalry between the US and China in Israel, where both states have significant interests.
COVID-19 in Afghanistan
My new essay for the Royal Society of Asian Affairs considers the impact of coronavirus on Afghanistan.
Will Iran Sabotage Afghan Peace Talks? Don’t Bet On It
It has been suggested that Iran might sabotage the Afghan peace process in retaliation for the Soleimani killing. But this is unlikely, I argue here.
How US-Iran Tensions Might Benefit China
My latest essay asks whether rising tensions in the Middle East following the US’ recent killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani could benefit China. The answer: yes, but not in the way you might think.
The Myth of Chinese ‘Debt-Trap Diplomacy’
US officials have repeatedly accused China of ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, swamping poor countries with so much debt that they have to surrender control of strategic assets. But there are almost no real-world examples of this phenomenon, I show in my latest essay.
Interview with Sherry Rehman on Kashmir, Terrorism, and US-Pakistan Relations
I recently had the opportunity to interview Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Sherry Rehman, on the sidelines of a recent conference on Kashmir in Ankara. Read the article here.
China’s Silent Foray into Nepal
My latest looks at China’s growing influence in Nepal, which has traditionally been dominated by India but is increasingly within Beijing’s sphere of influence.
Rupert Stone 