Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

In Latin America, Mexico (2020), Chile (2022) and Colombia (2022) have all officially committed to a feminist foreign policy (FFP). The introduction of a feminist approach to foreign policy should be seen in the context of a growing awareness of gender issues in international, regional and national politics. In comparison with their European counterparts, the Latin American approaches to FFP exhibit a stronger focus on the domestic dimension, on internal problems. This is especially clear in the case of Mexico, while Chile’s FFP emphasises the feminist perspective in foreign trade and Colombia’s FFP defines itself as pacifist. These countries’ FFPs have not brought about a fundamental political change, but they do inject new momentum into existing gender equality policies and gender mainstreaming. They expand women’s participation and representation and enhance the visibility of women’s contribution to foreign policy. Mexico, Chile and Colombia are important partners for Germany and the EU in matters concerning the global gender and human rights agenda. As these Latin American countries are intensifying their cooperation in these areas, they are also worthwhile partners for the expansion of trilateral cooperation. As the German Federal Foreign Office has dropped its FFP, while the Ger­man Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is continuing its feminist development policy and the future of Chile’s FFP is uncertain due to the change of power, it will make sense to pursue cooperation on human rights, inclusion and gender issues through vari­able formats and terminological framing. Germany should also benefit from learning processes, and strengthen bi-regional dialogue and exchange, including between feminist and women’s organisations.

The country just broke ground on its first integrated chip plant, part of its ambition of pushing itself up the global semiconductor value chain.

The global soccer body FIFA has suspended seven foreign-born players that it claims were granted Malaysian citizenship through the use of fake documents.

The two-day Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat is the first major meeting to take place under the Philippines' chairmanship of the bloc.

In a recent interview, the Chinese ambassador to Australia suggested Beijing may be willing to use economic tools to punish Australia should Canberra not fall in line on Taiwan.

As Ukrainian attacks on Kazakhstan’s primary oil export route intensify, the Central Asian state has moved to deepen cooperation with the United States.

Many internationals now assume that Myanmar’s political future will ultimately be determined by Beijing. This is a profound misreading.

While much remains uncertain, developments over the past year offer a clearer sense of what lies ahead.

The Karakalpak lawyer was sentenced in 2023 to 16 years in prison; ever since there have been consist reports of his mistreatment and torture.

Insights from Dan Tadross.

Even as Trump demonstrates unprecedented power, bipartisan congressional efforts to counter China and support Taiwan.

U.S. and South Korean leaders dost protest too much, methinks.

Bishkek has reportedly taken Moscow to the EAEU court over Russia's failure to provide social protection – medical insurance – to the families of Kyrgyz migrant workers.

Germany is facing a security policy Zeitenwende whose industrial dimension has not yet been sufficiently addressed. The war in Ukraine, rising military threats in Europe, and the long-term underfunding of the German Armed Forces have exposed the limits of existing defence industrial capacity, while the reliability of the United States (US) as a security guarantor is increasingly uncertain. This creates a strategic need for Germany to quickly rebuild its defence industrial base. Yet, despite the increased demand and funding, German defence industries are struggling to scale production quickly, exposing capability gaps that endanger both national defence and NATO commitments. In this context, cooperation with South Korea gains strategic relevance, as plans for localised production by Korean defence firms in Germany could ease bottlenecks, shorten supply chains, and enhance operational readiness without creating new strategic dependencies.

Reading the tea leaves after the CCDI’s Fifth Plenum.

Public response to PTI’s calls for protests is low, as Pakistanis, battered by inflation and economic woes, have little appetite for upheaval.

Hinduism gained ground in the region in the early centuries of the Common Era because it provided elites with a fully-fleshed metaphysical package along with literacy.

It’s the state’s inability to create civilian capacity.

Marcus Tantau from Templeton Research sees maritime Southeast Asia faring well, but predicts mixed fortunes for the mainland nations.