A recent week of meetings in Vietnam with Communist Party leaders, government officials, and other influential figures reveals how Hanoi views today’s economic and geopolitical challenges, as well as how Washington might reassure the country about its commitment to a deeper U.S.-Vietnam relationship after months of unhelpful friction between the two.
Beijing's AI-driven hacking campaign;
Trump-Xi meeting spurs agricultural deals;
China trade surplus with Germany hits new high;
China is a "very significant" challenge to German car companies;
Visa-free policy extended through 2026, Sweden added
Venezuela's Maduro seeks support... in Moscow, Beijing and Tehran;
Waning enthusiasm for the Ukraine war;
Russia green lights nuclear tests;
Poland plans to train civilians;
A growing domestic threat
On October 10, 2025, the CIS heads of state summit was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Multiple packages of documents were signed, targeting trade, crime, and most importantly, security. Security challenges from Afghanistan, including extremism and border conflicts, have continued since the Taliban takeover, and these recent agreements make up another component of Central Asia’s lengthy efforts to reduce the recurring concerns that can potentially spill over into their territories.
Big changes are afoot in the South Caucasus. Back in August, in a move that passed largely unnoticed in the American press, the Trump administration pulled off a major diplomatic coup when it brought together Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to ink a joint declaration formally ending decades of hostility between the two regional rivals.