Asian Horizon

Asian Horizon presents videos examining geopolitical, economic, financial and security developments across Asia.

Host and anchor Arne Elias Corneliussen conducted a large number of fact-finding expeditions across East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.

He also travelled by train, car and bus from Shanghai to Istanbul, and mapped infrastructure developments, logistics clusters and geopolitical dynamics. He followed and studied China since the late 1980s.

7th Round of JCPOA Talks with Iran - Risk Assessment

Asian Horizon: 7th Round of JCPOA Talks with Iran – Risk Assessment Subscribe to Global Horizon: https://lnkd.in/d7zAw6x Global Horizon is NRCI´s YouTube Channel

In this program NRCI CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen examines the 7th round of the JCPOA talks with Iran in Vienna. What may an agreement look like? What is the likely outcome of these talks. Will they reach an agreement? He also examines what may happen if they do not reach an agreement and potential scenarios.

#GlobalHorizon Weekly Program Schedule Every Wednesday: Asian Horizon Geopolitical Horizon African Horizon

#AsianHorizon is a weekly NRCI original series released every Monday. NRCI´s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents his perspectives on geopolitical, economic, financial and security developments in Asia.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Xi-Biden Virtual Summit

Asian Horizon: Xi-Biden Virtual Summit

#GlobalHorizon Weekly Program every Wednesday Asian Horizon Geopolitical Horizon African Horizon

Request availability for speaking engagements and advisory sessions with NRCI founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen – client@nrci.no

#AsianHorizon is an NRCI original series. NRCI´s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents his perspectives on geopolitical, economic, financial and security developments in Asia. In this program he examines the Xi-Biden Virtual Summit this week and the larger implications for US-China relations.

Friday, November 19, 2021

Taiwan - Strategic Risk Assessment

Asian Horizon: Taiwan – Strategic Risk Assessment Subscribe to Global Horizon: https://lnkd.in/d7zAw6x Global Horizon is NRCI´s YouTube Channel #GlobalHorizon Weekly Program Schedule: Asian Horizon – Every Monday Geopolitical Horizon – Every Wednesday African Horizon – Every Friday Speaking engagement enquiries: client@nrci.no #AsianHorizon is a weekly NRCI original series released every Monday. NRCI´s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents his perspectives on geopolitical, economic, financial and security developments in Asia. #AsianHorizon, #China, #Taiwan, #US

Monday, October 25, 2021

JCPOA Negotiations - Risk Assessment

Asian Horizon: Russia-Iran Strategic Partnership

Subscribe to Global Horizon: https://lnkd.in/d7zAw6x Global Horizon is NRCI’s YouTube Channel

#GlobalHorizon Weekly Program Schedule: Asian Horizon – Every Monday Geopolitical Horizon – Every Wednesday African Horizon – Every Friday

Request availability for speaking engagements and advisory sessions with NRCI founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen – client@nrci.no

#GeopoliticalHorizon is a weekly NRCI original series released every Wednesday. NRC’s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents his perspectives on geopolitical, economic, financial and security developments around the world.

#GeopoliticalHorizon, #Russia, #Iran

Monday, October 11, 2021

China-Laos Railway Opening China-Southeast Asia Corridor

In this program he examines the new China-Laos railway corridor opening in Laos National Day on December 2. The 471 km railway extending from Boten on the China-Laos border to Vientiane includes 20 stations, 75 tunnels and 165 bridges. This railway transforms Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country between China and Thailand. The China-Laos railway constitutes the first leg of what will become the China-Southeast Asia corridor. In Thailand they are now building a 625 km railway corridor from Bangkok to Nong Khai on the Thai-Laos border. This will continue from Nong Khai to Vientiane connecting with the China-Laos railway corridor.

Then we will most likely see upgrade and new railway corridor developed from Bankgok to Kuala Lumpur and onwards to Singapore. The 3900 km distance from Kunming in the Yunnan province in China to Singapore may be connected with a final 1700 km extension built from Singapore all the way to Jakarta in Indonesia. That would provide a 5600 km China – Southeast Asia corridor. Completion for the entire China-Southeast Asia corridor could be expected around 2030 – 2040.

Monday, October 4, 2021

EXPO 2020 DUBAI - Opportunities and Dialogue

In this program he examines EXPO 2020 DUBAI, which opens on Friday October 1. This is the first time an expo is hosted in the Middle East. Countries from all over the world developed their own country exhibitions in the EXPO 2020 DUBAI area. This opens a range of opportunities for international dialogue, business development, and bridge building between countries and across cultures, religions and societies. Expo was first hosted in London in 1851. Now 170 years later it opens in Dubai in the UAE.

Over the last decades the UAE and Dubai went through a remarkable growth and evolution from being a desert area to now becoming a global growth hub for business, logistics and finance in the Middle East. Many countries can learn from the UAE by observing how they developed the UAE´s economy and modern urban city landscapes. The UAE also developed international advisory councils for various ministries, which is a sophisticated approach to strategic thinking enabling different world leading experts to contribute to the UAE´s growth and evolution.

Monday, September 27, 2021

AUKUS - Geopolitical and Strategic Implications

In this program he examines the geopolitical and strategic implications of AUKUS – the new strategic security partnership between the US, UK and Australia. China reacted angrily to this new security partnership as Beijing regards this as another Western security-initiative meant to confront and challenge China. China considers AUKUS a new security layer adding to an expanding US-led security architecture in the Asia-Pacific Region involving QUAD and the US-Japan and US-South Korea security alliances.

With AUKUS, Australia will purchase 8 nuclear-powered and conventionally-armed submarines from the US and the UK. Australia cancelled its contract with the NAVAL Group of France for 12 conventionally-powered submarines. This caused a major unprecedented diplomatic crisis between France and the US, France and Australia, and France and the UK. On a deeper level this constitutes another example of US unilateral decision-making fomenting the deepening long-term divisions between Europe and the US. AUKUS may also impact ongoing EU – Australia free-trade negotiations.

Negotiations between the US, UK and Australia regarding AUKUS lasted for 18 months, without France knowing. President Macron was informed about AUKUS in a letter only a few hours before the virtual press conference, on Wednesday last week US and UK-time and Thursday morning Australia-time, in which President Biden, Prime Minister Johnson and Prime Minister Morrison presented AUKUS.

Monday, September 20, 2021

Eurasian Strategic Architecture: China, Russia, Turkey and Iran

In this program he examines the Eurasian strategic architectural landscape and the role of four key players: China, Russia, Turkey and Iran. Envisioning the future we see a range of infrastructure, industrial and economic corridors emerging between China, Russia, Turkey and Iran. These four giants play a vital role in the emerging strategic architecture of Eurasia.

China and Iran recently signed a 25-year strategic agreement; Russia and Iran currently negotiate a new strategic agreement; Turkey play an important actor with infrastructure and industrial investments across Central Asia and the Middle East. In addition, emerging rail, road and logistics connectivity across the Eurasian continent from north to south and east to west drive economic growth, trade, and business relationships. We also see an expanding web of special economic zones and logistics clusters becoming growth engines connecting the vast Eurasian landscape. China, Russia, Turkey and Iran are all industrial countries with substantial manufacturing capacity – developing the Eurasian strategic architecture.

Monday, September 13, 2021

The Role of Qatar After NATO Exit from Afghanistan

In this program he examines Qatar´s increasingly important role after NATO´s exit from Afghanistan. The Taliban had an office in Doha over the last decade and maintain close relations with Qatar´s leadership. The US will now move its diplomatic mission focusing on Afghanistan to Doha, and other countries are also now considering moving their embassies from Kabul to Doha focusing on Afghanistan.

In addition, Qatar and Turkey now coordinate and plan technical work processes to reopen Kabul International Airport. Last night, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stood next to Qatar´s foreign minister Abdulrahman Al-Thani at a press conference in Doha, and there will probably be a range of other press conferences with Qatari and international leaders in Doha focusing on Afghanistan going forward.

Consequently, Doha becomes the diplomatic center of gravity with global attention now on Afghanistan.

Monday, September 6, 2021

Regional Implications of NATO Exit from Afghanistan

In this program he examines the regional implications of NATO´s exit from Afghanistan. He examines potential developments and perspectives from China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. He takes a deeper look at potential infrastructure and economic corridors. Afghanistan has an important geographic location situated at the epicenter of Eurasia. NATO made a cardinal error to not invest in infrastructure in Afghanistan. Therefore, Europe and the US have no strategic relevance or strategic presence in Afghanistan´s future.

Future historians may look back and write that NATO´s exit from Afghanistan was the definitive beginning of the end to the Western world´s dominance in world politics. Lending credence to Afghanistan´s epithet – graveyard of empires.

In addition he assesses the potential for terrorist groups to maintain and strengthen their activities inside Afghanistan. Taliban insisted so far that no terrorist groups will be allowed to operate inside Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan is a vast country, thus it may be challenging for Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from finding hideouts where they may train and operate unimpeded.

Monday, August 23, 2021

Taliban Conquers Afghanistan - Current Dynamics and Strategic Vibrations

In this program he examines Taliban´s return to power in Kabul and how it now controls Afghanistan. He examines what this means strategically and provides a forecast going forward. Now, former President Ashraf Ghani along with his wife, director of his office and National Security Advisor, flew to Tashkent in Uzbekistan yesterday.

In the near future, China may recognize Taliban as the official government in Afghanistan, and Russia, which until now registered Taliban as a terrorist group, may also follow suit and recognize Taliban. Interestingly, Russia decided to maintain its diplomats and staff at its embassy in Kabul, and will not pull out as other countries now do.

Currently, Islamic State – Khorasan (IS-K) numbers approximately 2,200 in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces in eastern Afghanistan, and likely other areas. Taliban fought IS until now, however it remains to be seen how much focus Taliban will place on fighting IS-K going forward. While Al-Qaeda´s current organization in Afghanistan is considerably diminished compared to before 9/11 2001, they will now likely re-organize and may attempt to find areas where they can rebuild over time.

Strategically, Taliban´s take over in Afghanistan shifts focus east as European countries and the US no longer have any influence in Afghanistan. China and Russia along with Central Asian countries, Iran and Pakistan may soon attempt to establish negotiations with the Taliban to plan strategic infrastructure investments and other investments to integrate Afghanistan into economic corridors and investment strategies in the wider Eurasian landscape. India invested in the Port of Chabahar in southeastern Iran as its gateway into Afghanistan, now that may end. India clearly opposed Taliban´s military take over in Afghanistan. The US and NATO underestimated Taliban´s capacity, agility and operational strength.

Monday, August 16, 2021

Tokyo Olympics 2020 and Global Human Spirit

In this program he shares some reflections on the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the extraordinary Summer Olympic Games, which Tokyo and Japan organized, during very challenging times in Japan and the world. During the Tokyo Olympics 2020 we have seen the global human spirit as athletes from around the world came together to compete in a range of sports.

From a management and event perspective, many companies, organizations, foundations and countries can learn from the extraordinary organization, coordination, facilitation and communication which Japan and Tokyo presented over the last weeks in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, and which we will see during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games. Thank you, Japan.

Monday, August 9, 2021

Taliban & Afghanistan's Political Future – China and Russia's Strategic Maneuvering

In this program he examines Taliban´s role in Afghanistan´s political future, and China and Russia´s strategic maneuvering. Russia conducted several meetings with the Taliban and other parties in Moscow on several occasions, and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met with a Taliban delegation on a two-day visit in Tianjin last week.

In the middle of July the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conducted a meeting at the foreign minister level with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi along with other SCO members in which they discussed Afghanistan´s future in the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. Now it appears increasingly likely that Taliban may gain a leading role in Afghanistan´s political future through their military conquests.

China and Russia understand this and seek to build a pragmatic dialogue with Taliban to ensure that Taliban understands the need to stabilize and develop national unity in Afghanistan in the future, and to prevent other terrorist organizations from gaining a training foothold inside Afghanistan to conduct attacks inside other countries.

This is a complex, delicate and evolving situation which requires a pragmatic, focused and multipronged diplomatic effort within a regional context to also integrate Afghanistan economically into infrastructure projects and trade corridors in the future.

Monday, August 2, 2021

Saudi Arabia - Geoeconomic Challenges

In this program he examines Saudi Arabia´s geoeconomic challenges. How does Saudi Arabia´s lack of access to oceans impact its geoeconomic environment? Does Saudi Arabia have an international infrastructure strategy? Where could Saudi Arabia develop overland trade routes to drive its Vision 2030 targets? These and other questions will be explored in this program.

Monday, June 28, 2021

Ebrahim Raisi - New President in Iran: Policies and Strategic Thinking

In this program he examines Ebrahim Raisi´s likely policies and strategic thinking as he won the presidential election in Iran this weekend. What will be his major policies and in which direction will he lead Iran? What will happen with the JCPOA talks in Geneva? How will Ebrahim Raisi position Iran strategically? How will Iran´s regional policies evolve under President Raisi?

Monday, June 21, 2021

G7 and China - Infrastructure

In this program he reflects on the G7 Summit´s agreement to develop infrastructure around the world – he assesses if we will see the G7 countries developing infrastructure on a global scale as China does with its One Belt One Road strategy. He argues that we are probably not going to see the G7 countries collectively develop a global infrastructure strategy such as China has with its OBOR strategy. However, rather we may see G7 countries and companies from G7 countries independently develop infrastructure around the world.

To develop infrastructure on a global scale such as China does requires advanced industrial and manufacturing capacity on a large scale, balanced relations with many countries, and a geopolitical balancing act.

Monday, June 14, 2021

China-US Relations

In this program he shares his perspectives on current dynamics in China-US relations. He also provides a strategic forecast. He examines the economic, strategic and security spheres in this vital bilateral relationship. He opens by asking a fundamental question: Does the US have the relevant strategic architecture and strategic tools to compete with China in the economic sphere? He also examines if there will be a war between China and the US, and he concludes by providing a strategic forecast.

Monday, June 7, 2021

China-Russia Relations

In this program he examines current China-Russia relations and he provides a strategic forecast. This week Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission in China, Yang Yiechi, meets with Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, in Moscow. They discuss strategic relations between China and Russia and relations with the US in preparation of the Biden-Putin Summit in Geneva on June 16. China-Russia relations experience its highest levels in history now and cover a range of fields including political, economic, energy, infrastructure, industrial, military and strategic cooperation.

Monday, May 31, 2021

EU - China Relations

In this program he examines the recent decision by the EU to not ratify the Comprehensive Agreement of Investment (CAI) with China. This will not impact trade and economic relations. We likely see trade increase between the EU and China in the coming years. Currently we also see increased infrastructure connections and economic trade corridors emerging between China and the EU. However, this decision reflects the current environment in relations between the EU and China, and this is not healthy and conducive for good relations in the long term. Brussels should rethink and increase dialogue with China to improve understanding and manage relations with China in a balanced manner.

Monday, May 24, 2021

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

In this program he examines the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is major economic corridor providing infrastructure connections with a highway from Kashgar in Xinjang in western China across Pakistan to Gwadar along Pakistan´s southern coastline.

CPEC includes agricultural, industrial and energy and railroad projects, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), logistics clusters, and educational programs. Pakistan also improves infrastructure connections with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries into CPEC. This regional strategy transforms CPEC into an infrastructure corridor also for Iran, Afghanistan & Central Asian

Monday, May 17, 2021

India - Strategic Forecast

n this program he examines the current situation and provides a strategic forecast for India. Prime Minister Modi came to power in 2014, but India failed to take major steps since then. Strategically, India did not implement policies and reforms to create strong economic development.

Regionally, Indias’s conflictual  relations with its neighbors prevent India from building strategic economic infrastructure corridors to the Middle East, Central Asia, Northeast Asia & Southeast Asia. India needs a strategic rethink to recalibrate its regional policies and strategic economic development. In the event that BJP wins the general election in May 2024, which may happen, we likely see more of current policies cementing status quo until 2030.

Monday, May 10, 2021

Saudi - Iranian Relations

In this program he examines the potential for improvement in Saudi – Iranian relations. On Tuesday last week Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia came with a conciliatory tone towards Iran. Will Iran and Saudi Arabia see improved relations? What are the implications of a Saudi – Iranian rapprochement?

Monday, May 3, 2021

Boao Forum and Chinese Strategic Thinking

In this program he examines the main themes in President Xi´s keynote address at the Boao Forum last week. He also examines central elements in Chinese strategic thinking going forward.

Monday, April 26, 2021

Asian Horizon: Turkey - Strategic Landscape and Industrial Power

In this program he examines Turkey´s economy, infrastructure connections, industrial capacity and wider strategic landscape. He also provides a forecast for Turkey´s next presidential election in June 2023.

Monday, April 19, 2021

India - Geopolitical Space and Trade Forecast

In this program he examines India´s geopolitical space and provides a strategic trade forecast. He explains how India´s domestic political environment and conflictual relations with its neighbors hamper India´s ability to build and develop important economic trade corridors through Pakistan, China and Bangladesh – to the Middle East, across the Eurasian continent, and Southeast Asia.

Monday, April 12, 2021

Part II China - Iran Economic Corridor - Geopolitical Implications

In this program he presents part II of the China – Iran Economic Corridor and he examines and explains the geopolitical implications of the historic strategic agreement reached by China​ and Iran​.

Monday, April 5, 2021

China-Iran Economic Corridor

In this program he provides a strategic forecast of the China-Iran Economic Corridor (CIEC). Mr. Corneliussen was the first person to present the term: China-Iran Economic Corridor (CIEC). He argues that CIEC emerges out of the 25-year strategic agreement signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iran´s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Tehran on Saturday March 27.

In this video he examines and explains what he considers the most likely contents of the 25-year strategic agreement and he presents the three most likely geographic corridors connecting China and Iran into the China-Iran Economic Corridor (CIEC).

Monday, March 29, 2021

Infrastructure Plans in Central and South Asia

In this program he examines infrastructure plans in Central and South Asia.

Monday, March 22, 2021

Quad Summit; US Diplomatic Activity in Asia and US - China High Level Meeting in Alaska

 In this program he examines the Quad Summit​ on Friday; US high level meetings in Japan​, South​ Korea and India​ this week; and the high level meeting between the US​ and China​ in Anchorage in Alaska on Thursday this week.

Monday, March 15, 2021

Changing Dynamics in Indian Politics

In this program NRCI´s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents examines the changing dynamics in Indian politics. 

Monday, March 8, 2021

One Belt One Road

In this first program NRCI´s founder and CEO Arne Elias Corneliussen presents examines the One Belt One Road strategy.

Monday, March 1, 2021

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