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Fernando Villavicencio and the Self-Destructive Collaboration between China and Populist Regimes
R. Evan Ellis

Mexico’s relationship with China has always been complicated. Although Chinese migrants formed an important part in Mexico’s national story, the perceived “otherness” of the Chinese community and competition for work led to occasional violence against ethnic Chinese. With the contemporary expansion of the PRC economy, the position of both countries as manufacturing exporters led many Mexicans to see the PRC as a competitor, as much as an economic opportunity. Mexico has correspondingly not signed onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), nor has it joined the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Continue reading the article: https://theglobalamericans.org/2023/08/fernando-villavicencio-and-the-self-destructive-collaboration-between-china-and-populist-regimes/

Image from the Spanish-language version of this article, originally published on Infobae, with title overlay.
Aug. 15, 2023 - R. Evan Ellis Mexico’s relationship with China has always been complicated. Although Chinese migrants formed an important part in Mexico’s national story, the perceived “otherness” of the Chinese community and competition for...

Mexico’s Engagement with China and Choices for its Future
Mexico’s Engagement with China and Choices for its Future R. Evan Ellis As Mexico looks to national elections in June 2024, the expanding engagement that the country is backing into with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will have profound implications for the country’s future, as well as the United States and the rest of the region. Background Mexico’s relationship with China has always been complicated. Although Chinese migrants formed an important part in Mexico’s national story, the perceived “otherness” of the Chinese community and competition for work led to occasional violence against ethnic Chinese. With the contemporary expansion of the PRC economy, the position of both countries as manufacturing exporters led many Mexicans to see the PRC as a competitor, as much as an economic opportunity. Mexico has correspondingly not signed onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), nor has it joined the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Continue reading the article https://dialogo-americas.com/articles/mexicos-engagement-with-china-and-choices-for-its-future/ Image from Diálogo Américas with title overlay.
Aug. 11, 2023 - R. Evan EllisAs Mexico looks to national elections in June 2024, the expanding engagement that the country is backing into with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will have profound implications for the country’s future, as...

PRC Engagement in The Bahamas
PRC Engagement in The Bahamas 
R. Evan Ellis
China, South & Latin America, SSI Worldwide
Aug. 2, 2023 - R. Evan Ellis Introduction In his March 2023 annual posture statement to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, head of U.S. Northern Command General Glen VanHerck referred to the substantial commercial and other presence...

PacNet #49 – China’s military engagements with Cuba: Implications of a strategic advance in Latin America
PacNet #49 – China’s military engagements with Cuba: Implications of a strategic advance in Latin America, R. Evan Ellis
July 30, 2023 - R. Evan Ellis In June 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that the People’s Republic of China has heavily invested in a cash-strapped Cuba in exchange for access to an electronic intelligence collection (ELINT) facility,...

NATO’s Defense Demands Eastern Front Improvements
NATO’s Defense Demands Eastern Front Improvements
July 20, 2023 - John R. Deni The recent summit largely avoided urgent questions about the mismatch between available forces and the Russian threat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s rather impolitic reaction to the news that his...

NATO Vilnius Summit could have been historic. Instead, it mostly kicked the can down the road.
NATO Vilnius Summit could have been historic. Instead, it mostly kicked the can down the road. 
John R. Deni
July 14, 2023 - John R. Deni argues that at the NATO Summit, “there was little significant movement on several key issues, leaving much on the table for the alliance’s 75th birthday summit next year in Washington, DC.” With the Vilnius...

We don’t really know which NATO allies are pulling their weight.
We don’t really know which NATO allies are pulling their weight.
John R. Deni

The Defense Investment Pledge agreed to by NATO allies in 2014 is reaching its decade-long finish line. The Alliance’s own data indicate that not all allies will cross that line, as many still spend less than the equivalent of 2 percent of their gross domestic products on defense and several still devote less than 20 percent of their defense budgets to acquisition and related research and development. Nonetheless, some allies like the United States are advocating to increase the 2 percent target. This is sure to run into resistance. How can the United States and like-minded allies successfully negotiate higher targets? They might start by agreeing to portray NATO burden- and risk-sharing more accurately. Although some argue that inputs like defense spending tell us a lot about outputs like contributions to Alliance operations, recently available data indicate this is not necessarily the case: New statistical analysis shows that whether or not a country has met the 2 percent spending target doesn’t tell us whether or not they’re contributing equally to the Alliance’s mission. If burden- and risk-sharing could be portrayed more accurately, those opposed to increasing the input targets might be more willing to reconsider. Even if they do not, improving how NATO depicts burden- and risk-sharing would benefit lawmakers, analysts, academics, and the public. Recommendations on how to achieve this follow the statistical analysis.

Continue reading the article https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/natos-next-burden-sharing-agreement/
July 10, 2023 - Here’s how to fix that. John R. Deni  The Defense Investment Pledge agreed to by NATO allies in 2014 is reaching its decade-long finish line. The Alliance’s own data indicate that not all allies will cross that line, as many...

Debate continues over whether to invite Ukraine to join NATO
Debate continues over whether to invite Ukraine to join NATO
Podcast appearance.
John R. Deni

As leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, meet at the annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the conversation continues over whether to invite Ukraine to join the alliance and if so, when.

Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee speaks with John Deni, research professor at the U.S. Army War College and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
July 10, 2023 - Podcast appearance. John R. Deni As leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, meet at the annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the conversation continues over whether to invite Ukraine to join the alliance...

Security Challenges in the Caribbean: Threats, Migration, and International Cooperation
Security Challenges in the Caribbean: Threats, Migration, and International Cooperation, R. Evan Ellis, SSI Worldwide
R. Evan Ellis

The Caribbean faces growing security challenges, ranging from geopolitical tensions to armed violence and the gang epidemic, exacerbated by drug trafficking and competition for drug routes. The region has also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, mass migration, and money laundering. Caribbean countries require integrated solutions to address these issues, including strengthening institutions, combating crime and corruption, and addressing underlying causes such as inequality and drug demand. International cooperation, particularly with the United States (USA), plays a crucial role in facing these challenges and restoring stability in the Caribbean region.

Keywords: Caribbean, Security Challenges, Geopolitical Tensions, Armed Violence, Gangs, COVID-19, Migration, Money Laundering, Integrated Solutions, Institutional Strengthening, Crime Prevention, Corruption, Inequality, Drug Demand, International Cooperation, United States, Stability.

Continue reading the article

Background image from the related CEEP article.
July 6, 2023 - R. Evan Ellis The Caribbean faces growing security challenges, ranging from geopolitical tensions to armed violence and the gang epidemic, exacerbated by drug trafficking and competition for drug routes. The region has also...