Flash Notes

"We have been observing the upheaval in tariff structure, negotiations, and global trade dynamics since April 2025. It has already incurred and will continue bringing significant transaction costs, which are so called in institutional theory. That represents the expenses of transitioning from the old system to a new one, with benefits and costs distributed unevenly across companies and countries. Notably, even the harshest critics of US actions feel no temptation to declare the recently prevailing system ideal or theoretically flawless in every respect. 

Introduction.

"After listening, without uttering a single comment, to the US President repeatedly bash the wind power option in the sustainable energy portfolio, the leader of the international champion in claiming for cleaner energy generation fixed a so-called trade deal with the talkative president.

Introduction.

"Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump has been surprising, irritating, shocking or delighting different parts of the world with his assertive though volatile, not exactly diplomatic behaviour. A realist and pragmatist à outrance, Mr. Trumps admires power in itself, and powerful and successful people, as a consequence.  

This text was originally published as a Policy Brief (PB-05/25) of the Policy Center for the New South, in January 2025.

The Author, Hung Tran, is a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, Rabat, and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center, Washington DC; a former senior official at the International Institute of Finance and International Monetary Fund. In his words:

Introduction

"During November 18-19, the Government of India, through the impeccable organization and invitation of the Observatory Research Foundation - ORF and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the sponsorship of five other entities (two foreign governments, Norway and the Kingdom of Netherlands, and three private enterprises/institutions), held in New Delhi the huge conference Sagarmanthan – The Great Oceans Dialogue.

Introduction.

Abstract 

Abstract

Introduction.

"This paper elaborates on the idea that, since the demise of the Soviet Union, the European Union (EU) has been pursuing a schizophrenic energy policy, which in one hand deepens its dependence on Russian oil and gas, while simultaneously keeping a thorny relationship with Russia, reproducing perceptions and patterns akin to the Cold War.

Introduction.