INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Critical minerals, from lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, have become the backbone of modern industries, powering everything from defense systems to electric vehicle batteries. In today’s fractured geopolitical landscape, they represent more than resources: they are leverage.

Bangladesh’s democratic transition remains fragile. The interim government struggles to deliver reforms and prepare the country’s first credible election in 16 years, with risks ranging from orderly democratic renewal to violent breakdown.

In July, the GCC Supreme Council announced the approval of a unified tourist visa allowing foreigners to access all six countries within the bloc using a single permit. With plans to pilot this by the end of 2025, the relaxation of rules encourages multi-destination trips across the Gulf region.

On 8 August, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Washington that is poised to end more than three decades of bilateral tensions and open the way to better connectivity, not only in the South Caucasus but also for the Middle Corridor linking China to Europe.

The Gulf is positioned as a pivotal hub in the emerging India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), with the potential to reshape global trade routes while diversifying its economies. This analysis explores EU–GCC integration and the geopolitical stakes driving IMEC’s future.