Expert Commentary - The Sixteenth Council

Explore insightful analysis and diverse perspectives on critical global issues from leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners. Our expert commentary provides in-depth insights to challenge conventional thinking and inform informed decision-making.

ASEAN Summit in Malaysia: Defying Trump’s Tariffs. Will the Region Break Free or Bow Down?

At the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, leaders faced tough choices as Trump’s tariff threats loomed and China expanded its influence. With pressure mounting from both sides, ASEAN pushed for unity and new partnerships, including with the Gulf states. But internal divisions and the unresolved crisis in Myanmar cast a shadow. The summit was a clear reminder: if ASEAN wants to shape its own future, it needs to stand together, now more than ever.

The Republic of Kenya: The 2025 Budget Policy Statement

Kenya’s 2025 Budget Policy Statement outlines a bold vision for economic recovery, equity, and transformation under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. With record allocations to education, health, and agriculture, it aims to tackle poverty, youth unemployment, and debt pressure. Yet gaps remain between policy promises and lived realities. Can fiscal discipline and inclusive development truly coexist in a landscape marked by inequality, climate shocks, and mounting debt obligations?

US-Syria Relations – How the Lifting of Sanctions can Lead to Opportunities for Rapprochement

The recent U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria has sparked cautious hope for a new chapter in U.S.-Syria relations. With a new Syrian president in place, there's a chance to rebuild diplomatic and economic ties. While the move offers opportunities for recovery and cooperation, it comes with tough conditions. Could this be the start of lasting peace and partnership, or just a temporary shift in a complex region?

Trade Rivalry in the Americas: China Courts Latin America and the Caribbean

At a time when the U.S. and China are cautiously working towards stabilising trade relations following their recent tariff war, Beijing is revitalising economic relations with Latin American and Caribbean states through the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) cooperation forum by offering them billions of dollars in funding.

Tariffs and Trump: Reciprocity or Recklessness?

On May 21st, Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on EU goods and issued a sharp warning to Apple: move production to the U.S. or face penalties. It’s classic Trump; loud, provocative, and deeply strategic. But is it smart policy or reckless power play? This piece unpacks the logic behind the move, weighing its morality, fairness, and real-world impact in a tense moment for global trade and economic diplomacy.

Joseph Kabila Breaks Silence: A Measured Critique of Governance and Crisis in the DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a deepening crisis, as former President Joseph Kabila breaks six years of silence to deliver a sweeping critique of post-2019 governance. In a rare address, Kabila defends his legacy while condemning constitutional violations, electoral fraud, economic mismanagement, and worsening insecurity. Calling for national dialogue and regional cooperation, his speech underscores the urgent need for institutional reform and inclusive solutions to restore peace and stability.

Kabila on Trial: How the Senate Shattered Immunity and Shook a Nation

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on 22 May 2025, lifted the parliamentary immunity of Joseph Kabila Kabangé, former President and senator for life, challenging entrenched norms around immunity and accountability. While some see it as long-overdue justice, others warn it could deepen political rifts. Either way, the message is clear: the era of untouchable leaders may be coming to an end.

Will the Budget Cuts Cause the End of the UN as We Know It?

The United Nations faces an existential threat as severe budget cuts, particularly from major donors like the U.S., push it toward potential insolvency. Humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and global development initiatives are already in jeopardy. Without urgent reforms and diversified funding, the UN risks becoming irrelevant at a time when the world needs it most.

Oval Office Showdown: President Cyril Ramaphosa Faces Off Against Donald Trump

What should have been a strategic dialogue unraveled into a confrontation driven by misinformation. Trump’s reliance on discredited narratives highlighted the risks of populist rhetoric influencing foreign policy, pushing Ramaphosa to defend South Africa’s integrity instead of discussing economic cooperation and global trade partnerships

The New Art of Geopolitical Freelancing

Trump’s handshake with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on 14 May 2025 was not just the revival of US-Syria dialogue—it was a deliberate violation of every expectation set by decades of bipartisan American foreign policy. Only months earlier, Trump had declared Syria to be “not our fight.”

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