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El Salvador’s Constitutional Changes: A Move to Authoritarianism or Unfair Targeting?
Submitted by Ludwig Bauer, a seasoned geopolitical analyst specializing in Latin American politics and conflict dynamics, with the concluding analysis and outlook authored by the Golden Raven team. El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly approved constitutional changes to abolish presidential term limits and extend each presidential term to six years on Thursday, leading to fierce criticism from…
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From Switzerland to Afghanistan, US Tariffs Expose Blind Spots in Trade Logic
Trump’s New Tariffs Target Allied and Adversary Nations Alike.The United States (US) is set to implement a new round of tariffs on August 7 as part of its revised trade strategy under the Trump administration. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41%, are calculated based on bilateral trade imbalances and apply to dozens of countries including two drawing particular attention: Afghanistan and Switzerland.…
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Armenian Legacy: Church vs. State
Armenian Catholicos Karekin II.In June 2025, Armenian authorities arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and several associates over an alleged coup plot linked to the Church-affiliated Holy Struggle movement. The incident marks a deepening confrontation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, rooted in ideological, institutional, and geopolitical divergence. As Armenia reorients away from Russian influence…
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Moldova: A Proxy Battleground Emerges
A billboard in Tiraspol, Transnistria, celebrating the “Day of the Republic”. CREDIT: Clay Gilliland.As Moldova prepares for parliamentary elections in September 2025, officials warn of escalating Russian influence operations aimed at facilitating a pro-Kremlin government that could authorize troop deployments to Transnistria. The situation combines political interference, energy coercion, and military signaling—raising the risk of a new Russian front near NATO’s southeastern border. Meanwhile, the reorganization of Wagner…
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Timor-Leste: Revisiting a Forgotten War Ahead of ASEAN Entry
As Timor-Leste is et to join ASEAN in October 2025, we dive back into the country’s recent conflicts. CREDIT: Regio Da Cruz Salu.As Timor-Leste prepares for full accession to ASEAN in late 2025, its troubled path to independence raises renewed interest in its historical trajectory. This report revisits the conflict that led to one of the most violent decolonization processes in recent history. Following Portugal’s withdrawal in 1975, Indonesia occupied the territory, triggering decades of armed resistance,…
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AI, the Perfect Excuse? When Doubt Becomes Strategy
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often discussed in terms of its power to fabricate proactively to create false realities, but far less attention is paid to how it is used reactively — as a shield or fallback — to deflect inconvenient truths.Until recently, generative technologies were feared for their capacity to create convincing falsehoods — generating faces that don’t exist, speeches never delivered, or entirely fictional events. But a more subtle and equally consequential use is emerging: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now being invoked not only to create deception, but to discredit truth. As AI becomes…
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Silk Roads: China’s Footprint in Georgia
On March 31, 2025, Georgia deepened its shift toward China by signing a financial cooperation deal, reflecting broader strategic realignment amid stalled EU integration and declining Western engagement. CREDIT: Kari Nousiainen.On March 31, 2025, the National Bank of Georgia signed a memorandum of understanding with the People’s Bank of China in Beijing, outlining cooperation in monetary policy, financial technology, payment systems, and securities market development. This development marks a new phase in bilateral cooperation between the two countries, and is part of Georgia’s broader strategic…
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Parade and Pressure: Russia’s Victory Day Celebrations
As Russia prepares for its May 9 Victory Day parade amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions rise following Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, the participation of foreign troops, and the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia, including Moscow, days before the Victory Day parade. The strike heightened security concerns as foreign leaders and troops prepared to attend. The incident underscores rising tensions and the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding Russia’s wartime commemorations and alliances. Key Takes Major Drone Strike: On May 6, 2025, Ukraine…
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Sudan’s War, Uganda’s Burden: Inside a Refugee Camp
Sudan’s civil war continues to displace thousands, who relocate mostly in Uganda. CREDIT: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.The ongoing conflict in Sudan follows decades of unrest, from the Darfur conflict and its civil wars to the secession of South Sudan in 2011, from military rule to failed political transitions and the rise of paramilitary groups. These overlapping crises have created a corridor of displacement, with millions fleeing across borders in search of…
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Kursk Recaptured: Russian Forces Push Toward Sumy
Russian retook most of the Kursk Oblast and advances toward Sumy, amid continued strikes on energy infrastructures.Amid escalating hostilities in northeastern Ukraine, Russian forces have regained control of most of the Kursk region and are pushing toward Sumy. Intensified drone warfare, North Korean troop involvement, and strikes on critical infrastructure mark a volatile phase in the conflict. Territorial Gains and Military Operations Russian forces have retaken nearly all of the Kursk…