Corruption and political instability are not confined to any one geography, governance structure, or level of development. A look at three very different countries — Bulgaria in Europe, Nigeria in West Africa, and Nepal in South Asia — illustrates this point.

We are pleased to welcome Sarantis George Santas to Levant Foresights as a Political Analyst.

The IRGC was formed during the revolutionary consolidation of power led by Ruhollah Khomeini. Article 150 of Iran’s constitution defines its purpose as safeguarding “the Revolution and its achievements.” From the outset, it was intended not merely as a military body but as the ideological guarantor of the new state.

Levant was a name historically applied to the eastern Mediterranean coastal lands of Asia Minor and Phoenicia (modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon). In a wider sense, the term can also be used to encompass the entire coastline from Greece to Egypt.

Bulgaria’s political cycle has entered a phase where caretaker governance is no longer exceptional. Since 2021, repeated elections, fractured coalitions, and unresolved corruption disputes have prevented durable parliamentary majorities. With another election scheduled for 19 April 2026, the nomination of Andrey Gyurov as caretaker Prime Minister comes at a moment when institutional fatigue and public distrust define the country’s political equilibrium. The current crisis tra

The debate surrounding Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency has raised a concern in global politics: whether alliances can remain effective when their principal anchor increasingly approaches them as transactional arrangements rather than strategic commitments. For investors, policymakers, and multilateral actors, this is less a question of leadership style than of systemic resilience. Recent remarks by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in conversation with Foreign A

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met in Beijing towards the end of 2025. This meeting bears significance to the situation in MENA and Levant Foresights analysed how political stakeholders globally interpreted its geopolitical meaning.   Wang Yi pledged that China supports “security and development” in Syria, that it is open to helping with Syria’s reconstruction, and it respects Syria’s independent choices. It became apparent that

Dear Friends of Levant Foresights, 2026 just finished rolling out, just a magic carpet. My Singapore connection, MN, just texted me, after 6 years of limited contacts. The time was 08 and 13 where I live and 15-13 where she and her family are based. She was en route to her fitness after dropping Elisa off at a trampoline site. I rang her to ascertain that we are all healthy and that we care about each other & about the world beyond us. We ticked most key boxes in 9 minutes, i

Стрелбата повиши шансовете на Тръмп, световният ред ще се промени ( 24chasa.bg ) A reprint from 24 Chasa, a 10 million monthly unique users independent media based in Bulgaria. Copyright observed. Levant Foresights believes yesterday's attempt on presidential candidate Trump's life was in the making for several months, as his stance to win elections improved despite all headwinds. A popular American proverb says "It's all about business". You better believe it: he now has rea

Over a century ago, Prussian general and military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz said that war is merely an extension of diplomacy by other means. Though some may find this statement cynical, it does appear to have plenty of empirical grounding, especially when looking at the history of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Before the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1948, Pope Pius XII advocated for a two-state solution and a neutral standing with a legal safeguard of

Flash back to June 2023, first team meeting War, skyrocketing inflation, food insecurity, energy crisis, cost-of-living crisis and a potential recession linger an increasing leaderless "free world" and present most people with weekly challenges of personal choices. We foresee the unexpected: EU members stopping aid to Ukraine, Argentina's chance to reverse a 20-year Peronist limbo in shatters and Moscow recruiting Hezbollah militants.   Levant Foresights brings together exper

China. It is being seduced by Russia to antagonise the West, has already emancipated itself from the RoW in Africa and is now unveils policy bytes against deflation and housing stagnation which may send shock waves through world's economic fibres. China sold just sold a massive pile of U.S. debt and its largest property developer all but declared bankruptcy. China will begin to resemble an exotic animal which changes its colours to deceive its hostile environment. Countries

The US is strongly expected to commence a "soft landing" - not on the chart below but a separate point is that the peak US unemployment now projected at the time of peak rates is only 4%, which is nothing. Europe, on the other hand, is doing worse than previously expected, with Germany dipping into a recession this year. What about geopolitical risks? Going back to 1985, no non-market-driven event has ever created a long-term market disturbance. Repricing of certain sectors -

By Emilia Zankina and Rumiana Bachvarova Weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov visited Beijing calling on China to work together for a “ multipolar, just, democratic world order ”. Eighteen months later, the Russia-Ukraine war rages on with no prospects of return to peace, Nagorno-Karabakh is overtaken by Azeri forces, and a full-scale war exploded in Israel and the Gaza strip. And all the while, more and more refugees are flooding E

Say "capital" and New York may come to your head, especially if you are an Eastern European national. But Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE, Egypt, Jordan (an arguably, Cyprus) host population equal to the "old" EU. Their domestic economies are stable and represent 20% of EU's 27 country combined GDP. Are they the next logical big trade and investment partner for the much smaller Southeast Europe economies? Levant Foresights believe so. Our "collaboration axis" product can pinpoint t

Levant was name historically applied to the eastern Mediterranean coastal lands of Asia Minor and Phoenicia (modern-day Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon). In a wider sense, the term can be used to encompass the entire coastline from Greece to Egypt. Our research team decided to add countries bordering the Red Sea, as their policies and 21st century leaders have been doing much in policy making and investment philosophy, as to stretch influence and reach across the Med. In the early