Author: ZORAIZ KLASRA
ZORAIZ KLASRA
Zoraiz Klasra is the National Security and Defence Correspondent for The Islamabad Telegraph. He specializes in exposing hybrid warfare, disinformation campaigns, and regional threats to Pakistan. His investigative reporting focuses on covert networks involving India, Israel, and anti-state proxies.
Trump’s tariffs on Europe accelerated Hungary, Serbia, and Greece’s economic pivot toward China. China-Serbia trade reached $6.1B in 2024, Hungary-China trade hit $13.5B, and Greece-China trade rose to $11.2B. Belt and Road projects like the Budapest-Belgrade railway and Piraeus Port modernization are transforming regional connectivity. Combined trade could exceed $50B by 2030, creating a north-south “Silk Corridor” across Eurasia. In 1946, Winston Churchill warned about an “Iron Curtain” descending across Europe, stretching “from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic.” Nearly eighty years later, a very different curtain seems to be falling — this time running 600 kilometers…
Trump ties trade deals and tariff relief to massive fossil fuel purchases, pressuring allies to slow climate goals. EU signs a $750 billion U.S. energy deal, risking its 2050 emissions targets amid American economic leverage. Scientists warn global temperatures have already crossed 1.5°C, heightening climate crisis fears. Critics call Trump’s approach “climate obstructionism,” while supporters frame it as energy security and sovereignty. President Donald Trump’s second term is shaping into a high-octane campaign—not for re-election, but for fossil fuels. With tariffs, trade deals, and blunt diplomatic pressure, Trump is orchestrating a geopolitical counteroffensive against global climate ambitions, demanding allies and…
Brazil threatens to challenge U.S. tariffs in American courts after Trump imposes 50% duties on Brazilian exports. Finance Minister Fernando Haddad criticizes Washington’s “weaponization” of trade and warns of global economic risks. Legal experts say a lawsuit would be unprecedented, testing the limits of U.S. trade law and executive authority. The dispute deepens uncertainty in U.S.-Brazil relations and raises concerns about dollar dominance in global trade. Brazil’s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad has signaled that his country is prepared to take the extraordinary step of challenging the United States in its own courts over the punitive tariffs imposed on Brazilian goods…
Strategic Tariffs: Trump’s shifting deadlines and tough trade levies are forcing economic concessions from allies and rivals alike. Peace Through Pressure: Economic leverage on Russia and Ukraine shows America driving diplomacy on its own terms. Conditional Engagement: U.S. funding cuts to global institutions mark a shift from blank-check diplomacy to results-driven leadership. Global Adaptation: Nations scramble to align with Washington’s transactional approach ahead of the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump has once again proven that global diplomacy is no longer business as usual. With new tariffs on countries ranging from Switzerland to India and a surprise summit with Russian…
Tariff Shock: Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%, with some sectors like autos and steel facing 50% duties. Economic Fallout: Canadian firms, including Algoma Steel and GM Canada, have begun layoffs and shift cuts. Retaliation Muted: Carney signaled limited trade retaliation, focusing instead on domestic relief and diversification. Global Pivot: Canada is actively pursuing new trade alliances in Asia, Europe, and beyond to reduce U.S. dependence. Toronto, Canada — In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s dramatic tariff hike on Canadian goods last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled a tectonic shift in Canada’s trade policy, declaring that…
President Trump threatens sweeping sanctions on Russia and its energy buyers unless Ukraine war ends by August 8. Putin signals no major shift, boasting that Russian momentum on the battlefield is growing. Analysts argue Trump waited too long; Putin repeatedly dismissed U.S. warnings and escalated attacks. Ukraine urges direct peace talks, but Moscow continues airstrikes and delays negotiations. With the war in Ukraine grinding into its fourth year, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that sweeping new sanctions on Russia—and on nations buying its energy exports—will come into effect by August 8 unless Moscow agrees to a meaningful end to…
Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and News Corp, alleging false claims about a lewd birthday card linked to Jeffrey Epstein. The article at the center of the controversy alleges Trump authored a crude note featuring a nude sketch, which he calls “a complete fake.” The lawsuit targets major media figures, including Rupert Murdoch and Dow Jones executives, accusing them of deliberate reputational harm. Legal experts say the case is difficult to win but could serve as a strategic move to silence critical media coverage ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections. PALM…
Global Power Vacuum: Trump’s slashing of foreign aid weakens U.S. influence in strategic regions, opening the door for China and Russia to expand their diplomatic and economic reach. Erosion of Soft Power: Defunding USAID and public broadcasting undermines America’s tools of persuasion, reducing its ability to promote democratic values and counter authoritarian narratives. Domestic and International Backlash: Critics warn the cuts damage bipartisan cooperation, marginalize vulnerable communities, and send the message that the U.S. is retreating from global responsibility. Long-Term Strategic Risks: Without sufficient substitutes from Europe or NGOs, the aid gap could destabilize fragile regions and weaken U.S.-led alliances…
Israeli airstrikes hit Syrian military headquarters and targets near the presidential palace in Damascus amid escalating sectarian violence. Clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes in Sweida sparked the intervention, with Israel claiming it acted to prevent atrocities. Syria condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, raising fears of a regional war involving Jordan, Iran, and Hezbollah. The fragile post-Assad government faces internal dissent and external pressure, risking a return to civil war. DAMASCUS, Syria — A volatile mix of sectarian unrest and foreign military strikes has erupted into a full-blown crisis in southern Syria, following a series of…
U.S. deportation human rights violations have escalated as ICE now sends immigrants to unfamiliar countries without proper legal recourse. Legal experts warn that U.S. deportation human rights violations defy international agreements like the Convention Against Torture. The Supreme Court’s greenlight to Trump’s policy is drawing fire over U.S. deportation human rights violations from global human rights watchdogs. Immigrants facing U.S. deportation human rights violations are often sent to places they don’t speak the language or have any familial ties. Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration is facing mounting criticism for what rights advocates are calling a brazen violation of international…