Thin Red Lines

Thin Red Lines

Home
Americas
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Middle East
Africa
Country Focus
The Surge of the Right: Anti-Immigration Politics Across Europe
From Berlin to Lisbon, populists ride discontent over migration, testing the EU’s liberal red lines on asylum and integration.
Gold’s Resurgence Amid Waning Trust in U.S. Institutions
Central banks are hoarding bullion not for inflation, but out of doubt in America’s fiscal discipline and institutional credibility.
China–Russia Energy Diplomacy and Its Gulf Reverberations
Moscow’s sanctions-driven pivot to China redraws energy maps, leaving Gulf monarchies to wonder if their leverage is eroding.
Lesotho’s Diamond Mine Cuts Workforce Amid Global Slump
A 20% layoff at the famed Letseng mine underscores Africa’s persistent vulnerability to commodity cycles and external shocks.
Pakistan’s Tightrope Between Washington and Beijing
Islamabad courts Washington while bound to Beijing, but China’s warming ties with India risk making Pakistan expendable.
Fragile Anchors: Trust, Nationalism, and the Great Power Juggle
From gold’s resurgence amid U.S. fragility to Europe’s nationalist surge, Gulf unease over a China–Russia energy axis, and Pakistan’s diplomacy.
Losing the World’s Largest Democracy
Decades of careful diplomacy brought Washington and New Delhi closer together. But President Trump’s missteps put that fragile progress at risk, leaving…
Iran Maneuvers as Oil Sanctions Tighten, Looking Eastward
Sanctions push Iran’s “dark fleet” east, raising the risk that interdictions spill into kinetic conflict at sea.
Trump Reassures Poland, Sends Stark Warning to Putin
Warsaw gets the vow; the frontier’s safety still hinges on sustained troops and budgets.
Beijing’s Victory Day Parade Flaunts an Axis of Authoritarians
Beijing’s parade with Putin and Kim flaunts authoritarian alignment—symbolism strong, structural durability uncertain.
Commodity Crunch Tests African Exporters Amid Global Market Shocks
Higher U.S. yields lift borrowing costs, nudging fragile sovereigns toward the debt-sustainability red line.
U.S. Sanctions Shake Oil Markets, Exposing Fragile Energy Balances
U.S. sanctions on disguised Iranian crude weaponize tanker chokepoints, exporting volatility across the hemisphere.
© 2025 Thin Red Lines
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture