The Middle East and North Africa region is witnessing a fierce competition among the world’s current “great powers”—the U.S., Russia, and China. These three countries are all seeking to extend their influence in this region. But the ways they're engaging—with varying degrees of success—are as complex as the region itself.
This week on the show, Sophia digs into the data with Amr Hamzawy, a senior fellow and the director of the Carnegie Middle East Program. Trade and foreign direct investment, arms exports and military deployments – they all tell a story of shifting alliances, economic competition, and strategic maneuvering, and they raise important questions about how the US, China and Russia are shaping the future of the region.
Is American dominance in the region fading? What do Chinese and Russian spheres of influence look like? And how are the countries of the Middle East and North Africa navigating the complex web of great power competition?
Rachel Bonnifield joins The World Unpacked to discuss the risks, and benefits, of the Trump administration's termination of USAID and attempts to restructure U.S. foreign assistance.
Oliver Stuenkel, a prominent analyst of Brazilian politics, breaks down the trial and conviction of former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, and their implications, with Jon Bateman on The World Unpacked.
In this debut episode of a revamped The World Unpacked, new host Jon Bateman talks to Nate Soares about his provocative argument that superintelligent AI could destroy all humans in our lifetimes—and how the U.S., China, and other countries should band together to stop it.
In this episode of The World Unpacked, Isaac Kardon speaks with Alexander (Sasha) Gabuev about growing Russia–China cooperation in the Arctic. They explore the region’s rising strategic importance, its overlooked role in great power competition, and what it means for U.S. policy and allies.
Subsea cables power the internet—but remain a blind spot in global policy. Jane Munga and Sophia Besch join Isaac Kardon to explore their geopolitical, economic, and security implications.