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Access the complete body of work from The Source, featuring in-depth analysis, expert perspectives, and strategic commentary at the intersection of geopolitics, finance, and technology. Our archive is fully searchable and organized by topic, making it easy to find the insights most relevant to your interests.
Discover also our Word of the Day series — concise explorations of key terms and concepts that illuminate the evolving language of global strategy, policy, and markets.
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Canada’s LNG Pivot: Infrastructure, Diversification, and the Shifting Dynamics of North American Energy Dependence
Canada is entering a critical phase in the expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity. The inauguration of the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, marks a significant shift for a country whose energy exports have long been defined by near-exclusive reliance on the United States. By opening direct access to overseas markets, this project represents a structural departure from Canada’s traditional dependence on its southern neighbour. The launch
Amedeo Bizzotto
2 days ago6 min read


Extraterritoriality
"The terms ‘extraterritoriality’ and ‘extraterritorial jurisdiction’ refer to the competence of a State to make, apply and enforce rules of conduct in respect of persons, property or events beyond its territory. Such competence may be exercised by way of prescription, adjudication or enforcement. Prescriptive jurisdiction refers to a State’s authority to lay down legal norms. Adjudicative jurisdiction refers to a State’s authority to decide competing claims. Enforcement juris
The Source
3 days ago1 min read


Conflict and Green Energy: Turkey’s Challenges to Becoming a Regional Gas Hub
For decades, Turkey has dreamt of becoming a regional gas hub. It has sought to compensate for its lack of domestic hydrocarbon resources by taking advantage of its energy-rich neighbours and position itself as the leading energy partner in the region. To be sure, Turkey is already an important transit country for Russian, Middle Eastern and Central Asian gas. But in order to become a ‘gas marketplace’, several obstacles lay ahead for Ankara: namely the geopolitical tensions
Djamel Khaznadji
4 days ago5 min read


Trump's Venezuela Headache
With President Trump’s recent ultimatum pressing Nicolás Maduro to resign as Venezuela’s leader , it appears that the two states are on a collision course. While the Administration’s official reasoning behind the recent escalation has been an effort to end the flow of cocaine and fentanyl into the United States, we argue that this only partially explains the situation. On one hand, the prospect of invading a sovereign state reflects superpowers’ increasing propensity towards
The Source
5 days ago3 min read


Energy Autarky
Energy autarky (...) is conceptualized as a situation in which the energy services used for sustaining local consumption, local production and the export of goods and services are derived from locally renewable energy resources. Technically, the implementation of higher degrees of energy autarky rests on increasing energy efficiency, realizing the potential of renewable energy resources and relying on a decentralized energy system. Practically, a transition towards reg
The Source
5 days ago1 min read


What Timor-Leste’s Accession Reveals About ASEAN’s Strategic Identity
“History is made,” declared Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão in October 2025 during the signing ceremony marking the small country’s entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For Timor-Leste, ASEAN membership celebrates the nation’s resilience and determination, 23 years after gaining independence from Indonesia and 14 years of negotiations with the organization. For ASEAN, it represents the continuing realization of a united regional community
Lucile Guéguen
Dec 48 min read


Incoterms
"Incoterms are a series of contractual provisions developed for the international trade in goods. They serve to standardize and expedite trade between companies in different countries. The Incoterms are recognized worldwide and are recommended by international organizations (UNCITRAL, UNECE, etc.), but do not have the status of a formal UN agreement. They are used to determine which party is responsible for the costs of transportation and insurance. Incoterms are components o
The Source
Dec 31 min read


Moldova Between Giants: A Small Economy in the EU–US–Russia Triangle
Moldova: a small landlocked state of less of 3 million people, squeezed between Romania and Ukraine, described as Europe’s poorest country. Despite its modest size, Moldova sits at the crossroads of some of the world’s most consequential power struggles. The country’s economy remains heavily burdened by debt, much of it linked to the import of Russian natural gas, while over half of its population experiences energy poverty. According to UNDP data, more than 60% of Moldovans
Sofia Muscato
Dec 25 min read


Autarky
" Autarky is the term used to describe a country or economy that operates independently. Autarky, in its most basic sense, means “self-sufficient,” though it’s almost always used in correlation with a political or economic system, mean ing that the entity – whatever it is – can operate and exist free of outside influence, support, or trade." Source: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/economics/autarky/
The Source
Dec 11 min read


Space Economy
"The space economy encompasses all activities and resources that contribute to human progress through the exploration, research, understanding, management, and utilisation of space. The sector provides critical infrastructure on Earth, contributes fundamental scientific data for decision-making, and supports societal well-being. But challenges abound from the sustainability of the current use of space and the threat posed by space debris, to ethical implications of space expl
The Source
Nov 281 min read


Turning food into a geopolitical lever: crucial lessons from the Russian invasion of Ukraine
How can the EU foster long-term strategic autonomy of its food system? Europe often treats food security as a given. The EU discards over 58 million tonnes of food a year - about 130 kg per person - worth an estimated €132 billion. That abundance, however, can be misleading. The war in Ukraine, dependence on external inputs, and climate-driven harvest shocks have shown how quickly availability and prices can be weaponised. We need to rethink food security in terms of resilien
Antonio De Carluccio
Nov 268 min read


Extractivism
"In an attempt to arrive at a comprehensible definition, we will use the term extractivism to refer to those activities which remove large quantities of natural resources that are not processed (or processed only to a limited degree), especially for export. Extractivism is not limited to minerals or oil. Extractivism is also present in farming, forestry and even fishing." Source: https://www.tni.org/files/download/beyonddevelopment_extractivism.pdf
The Source
Nov 251 min read


American Initiatives to Address Mineral Dependencies through Offshore Undersea Mining
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on deep-sea mining marks one of the most assertive steps yet toward reshaping America’s control over critical mineral supply chains. Presented as part of a broader effort to reduce dependence on China, the order directs U.S. agencies to accelerate offshore exploration and streamline commercial licensing for seabed mineral extraction. While framed as a move to bolster national resilience against China centric supply lines, the po
William-Henry Au
Nov 218 min read


Polycrisis
The concept of the polycrisis refers to a state where multiple crises intertwine, their causes and processes inextricably bound together to create compounded effects. The word polycrisis was popularised by Columbia University academic Adam Tooze, and in early 2023 the World Economic Forum followed suit by warning in its annual Global Risks Report that the world was on the brink of a polycrisis in relation to “shortages in natural resources such as food, water, and metals and
The Source
Nov 201 min read


80 Years of United Nations: Navigating Through Global Challenges
In 2025, the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary. Since its founding in 1945, the UN has represented the idea that global order could be based on cooperation, institutions, and law. Today, however, the challenges it faces (geopolitical rivalries, fragmentation of powers, and diverging national interests) raise questions about its effectiveness and centrality. It is therefore useful to examine how this system of governance developed, identify its limits at each stage, an
Mehdi Amghar
Nov 185 min read


Détente
D é tente refers to the process of thawing of relations between the United States and Russia between the late 1960s and early 1970s by resuming arms talks following events that had brought states to the brink of nuclear war. (...) In practical terms, détente led to formal agreements on arms control and the security of Europe. A clear sign that a détente was emerging was found in the signing of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in 1968. (...) The breakdown of détente in the
The Source
Nov 181 min read


China – US Busan Summit: A Trade Truce, For Now
On October 30th, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. Despite the exaggerated description by the Whitehouse as “massive victory” for American workers, as a result of the “trade and economic deal”. Beyond the hyperbole, the meeting can rather be best described as a one-year trade truce with a non-bonding agreement between both sides, as the talks yielded agreements on a narrow set of issues of concern, but with no major strategic breakthrough.
James Hammersley
Nov 135 min read


Ring-Fencing
In a regulatory context, the term can best be understood as legally deconstructing a firm in order to more optimally reallocate and reduce risk. So utilized, ring-fencing can help to protect public-benefit activities performed by private-sector firms, as well as to mitigate systemic risk and the too-big-to-fail problem inherent in large financial institutions. If not structured carefully, however, ring-fencing can inadvertently undermine efficiency and externalize costs. Sour
The Source
Nov 121 min read


Geopolitical Swing State
Geopolitical swing states are critical to the world economy and balance of power, but they don’t have the capacity by themselves to drive the global agenda, at least for now. However, as long as the tensions between the U.S. and China continue to get worse, they will have outsized abilities to navigate geopolitical competition and take advantage of and influence it. They know this and are consciously using that newfound power to shape the world order to more effectively serve
The Source
Nov 111 min read


Indonesia’s new capital: building Nusantara for security, sustainability, and regional influence
Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is sinking at an alarming rate. Faced with overpopulation and failing infrastructure, it now holds the title of the world’s fastest-sinking city. In response, the Indonesian government announced in 2019 the construction of a new capital, Nusantara, in eastern Borneo. Could relocating its capital transform Indonesia’s role in Southeast Asia and beyond? With over 17,500 islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago and the fourth most popul
Lucile Guéguen
Nov 78 min read
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