By Gustavo de Arístegui,
February 17, 2026
I. BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Over the past 24 hours, an extremely tense geopolitical picture has taken shape, with two clear vectors: on the one hand, a high-risk negotiation dynamic—United States-Iran in Geneva, Ukraine-Russia under US tutelage—and, on the other, a silent realignment of global power around China and the economic erosion of Putin’s Russia.[1][2][3][4][5]
At the same time, the strategic periphery—from Nigeria to Bangladesh—is entering a phase of political-military reconfiguration that will have direct consequences for energy security, control of maritime routes, and the battle between liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes, in a context where Washington’s traditional allies are flirting dangerously with Beijing and where Europeans remain trapped between their energy dependence and their military fragility.[5][6][7][1]
II. MOST IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE LAST 24 HOURS
1. US and Iran open high-stakes nuclear negotiations in Geneva
Facts
– The United States and Iran have begun a new round of essentially indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, with the explicit threat of war on the horizon.[3][8]
– President Donald Trump has made it clear that the US military apparatus in the region is prepared for weeks of operations should he decide to order attacks against Iran; Washington links the nuclear issue to the missile program and to the economic pressure from sanctions.[8][9][10][3]
Tehran, weakened by internal protests, thousands of casualties, and a severe economic crisis stemming from oil sanctions, says it will only agree to limit its nuclear program in exchange for a substantial lifting of sanctions, and refuses to discuss its missile arsenal. [3][8]
Implications
– The theocratic regime in Tehran is trying to turn the Geneva table into a diplomatic shield against military and economic pressure, without abandoning its logic of “resistance” and exporting instability through its proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Gaza.[11][3]
– For Trump, negotiation is a tool of pressure, not an exercise in appeasement: the message is clear —either a reasonable agreement or a military option—, in continuity with a hardline approach that, despite its detractors, has shown the ability to extract concessions when combined with military superiority and allied cohesion.[12][8][3]
– The risk is a miscalculation: the concentration of resources in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian maneuvers and the presence of regional actors (Israel, the Gulf monarchies) turn any incident into a possible out-of-control escalation, with a direct impact on oil markets and the energy security of Europe and Asia.[9][10][5][3]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Limited containment agreement — Tehran agrees to freeze certain aspects of the nuclear program and gain economic breathing room in exchange for partial relief, without touching missiles or its militia network; it would be a bad deal but preferable to an immediate race towards the bomb.[11][3]
– Scenario 2: Controlled Outburst — Targeted US attacks on Iranian facilities, calibrated response from Tehran and return to negotiations from a position of greater Iranian weakness, with an increase in proxy attacks in the region.[8][12][3]
– Scenario 3: Major escalation — closure or sabotage of the Strait of Hormuz, massive military response and direct clash between the US and Iran with the dragging in of Israel and the Gulf States, which would send oil prices soaring and further erode Russia’s ability to finance its war, but at the cost of enormous global instability.[5][9][3]
2. Russia attacks Ukrainian power grid ahead of new peace talks
Facts
– In the last few hours, Russia has launched a wave of nearly 400 drones and 29 missiles against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, hitting at least 13 targets in 12 regions, cutting off electricity and heating for tens of thousands of civilians and killing workers in the sector.[4][13][14][15]
– The attacks come hours before the start of a new round of peace talks in Geneva involving Ukraine, Russia and US mediation, illustrating Moscow’s doctrine of always negotiating from a position of brutality on the ground.[13][14][4]
Implications
– The Russian aggression confirms that the Kremlin continues to use cold, darkness and terror against the civilian population as a weapon of war, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and as an instrument of psychological pressure on kyiv in the lead-up to the talks.[14][4][13]
– For Ukraine, entering the negotiating table with cities in darkness represents a double vulnerability: material —damage to industry and the social fabric— and political, with a heavy cost to the morale of an exhausted population and a diaspora spread throughout Europe.[4][13]
– From a European perspective, the inability to prevent these attacks underlines the deficit in air defense capabilities and the accumulated lag in effective military support, at a time when time is on Moscow’s side if it perceives fatigue in the West.[14][4][5]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: negotiation under duress —Moscow prolongs the attacks while maintaining a pseudo-peacemaker discourse to try to extract territorial concessions or Ukrainian neutrality; accepting this framework would legitimize the use of force to alter borders.[2][4]
– Scenario 2: Western reinforcement — Faced with Russian cynicism, the US and Europe increase the supply of air defense, long-range missiles and financial support, entering into a logic of “negotiating from strength” and not from fatigue.[4][5]
– Scenario 3: Freezing the conflict — an imperfect and poorly monitored ceasefire that would consolidate de facto front lines, create a “grey zone” of chronic instability and leave Ukraine partially mutilated, weakening the rules-based European order.[2][4]
3. Trump intensifies pressure on Ukraine ahead of Geneva talks
Facts
– The Economist and other media outlets highlight that President Trump is using pressure tactics on kyiv on the eve of the Geneva negotiations, presenting his “peace process” as inevitable and aimed at “ending the war” even at the cost of Ukrainian concessions.[16][17][2]
Previous analyses have indicated that Washington’s strategy seeks to combine veiled threats to Moscow with the suggestion that the time for unconditional support for Ukraine is limited, with the aim of forcing both sides to an agreement at the negotiating table.[18][16][2]
Implications
– From an Atlanticist perspective, the risk is that a poorly designed peace process will end up “balancing” Putin’s demands with Ukrainian resistance, giving the impression that the aggressor obtains some kind of territorial or political reward for his military adventure.[16][2]
– However, Trump’s pressure can also be interpreted as an attempt to break the inertia of a conflict that has lasted four years, in a context of finite Western resources and the need to concentrate strategic efforts in the Indo-Pacific and in containing Iran.[1][2][3]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: supervised agreement — a ceasefire with international guarantees, formulas for limited autonomy for occupied territories and a timetable for Russian withdrawal, accompanied by a security and reconstruction package for Ukraine; politically difficult, but compatible with a firm line towards Moscow.[2][4]
– Scenario 2: “Asymmetric” peace — Ukraine forced to accept de facto territorial losses in exchange for unreliable guarantees from Russia; this would represent a strategic defeat for the liberal order and an incentive for other revisionisms.[16][2]
– Scenario 3: breakdown of talks — the combination of Russian attacks and maximalist demands causes Geneva to fail; the war of attrition is prolonged and pressure on European economies and political cohesion increases.[19][5][4]
4. China’s high-speed rail network and the largest human migration on the planet
Facts
– The Financial Times details how China’s high-speed rail network — the largest in the world — becomes the backbone of the gigantic Lunar New Year travel operation, with projections of up to 9.5 billion interregional journeys during the Spring Festival period.[20][21][22][23]
– Nearly three-quarters of passengers travel at speeds exceeding 200 km/h, in a system that combines the expansion of new lines into inland cities, digitization of tickets and sophisticated flow management systems.[21][22][20]
Implications
– This capacity for internal mobility gives Beijing an unprecedented tool for territorial control and national cohesion, and reinforces its narrative of technological success in the face of a Western public opinion that watches with concern its relative industrial decline.[20][21][1]
– At the same time, the network is an instrument of soft-hard power (“soft power” with attributes of material power): it demonstrates to the developing world that the Chinese authoritarian model “works” in terms of infrastructure, while creating technological and financial dependence in the countries that import its railway know-how.[1][20]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Internal consolidation — China deepens the use of high-speed rail as a vector of economic and social integration, cushioning the impact of the economic slowdown and internal regional tensions.[21][20]
– Scenario 2: Exporting the model — more Chinese high-speed rail projects and logistics corridors in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with clear implications for the economic sovereignty and maneuverability of the receiving countries.[20][1]
– Scenario 3: strategic vulnerability —in a potential conflict, that same density of infrastructure becomes a military target and a focus of massive social disruption; a reality that the Communist Party cannot ignore.[1][20]
5. US allies queue in Beijing to see Xi Jinping
Facts
– The Economist and The New York Times both highlight a disturbing trend: numerous traditional US allies — such as Canada, the UK, Finland, Ireland and other European leaders — are making pilgrimages to Beijing to meet with Xi Jinping, in many cases without obtaining significant concessions on human rights, espionage or trade.[24][1]
– The message that China projects is clear: despite internal repression, purges in the military leadership and economic slowdown, it remains an indispensable partner for the recovery of their economies and an actor that must be courted.[24][1]
Implications
– This “economic realism” risks turning into strategic dependence: the more democracies rely on the Chinese market to compensate for their own growth anemia, the more leeway it gives Beijing to impose its conditions on issues of security, technology and international narrative.[24][1]
– From an Atlanticist perspective, seeing key NATO partners seeking economic oxygen in Beijing while Washington bears the main costs of deterrence against China and the defense of Ukraine is a worrying contradiction.[2][24][1]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: “China-first economy” — Europe and other allies continue to prioritize market access over values, weakening the cohesion of the democratic bloc and facilitating China’s divide-and-conquer strategy.[24][1]
– Scenario 2: Rebalancing — US pressure and evidence of Chinese coercive practices force a return to de-risking policies, albeit with enormous short-term costs.[1][24]
– Scenario 3: Atlantic crisis of confidence — if the White House perceives that its partners are aligning themselves economically with Beijing while hesitating to support its security agenda, an uncomfortable debate about “burden sharing” will open up that could seriously strain the alliance.[2][24][1]
6. Poland extends its war reparations campaign to Russia
Facts
– Poland is preparing a formal claim for reparations against Russia for Soviet crimes and domination during the Cold War, continuing its demands for compensation from Germany for the devastation suffered in World War II.[25][26][19]
– Warsaw has created specific structures to document the damage, with a mandate that goes beyond precedents in the Nazi case, and positions the Soviet legacy as an “outstanding grievance” that Moscow refuses even to acknowledge.[26][25]
Implications
Beyond its legal viability, the Polish initiative is a political message: in the midst of Russian aggression against Ukraine, Warsaw frames Moscow as the direct heir to an imperial tradition of occupation, repression and plunder, reinforcing its role as the eastern vanguard within the EU and NATO.[19][25][26]
– The Russian reaction—dismissing the demand as Russophobia and radicalism—confirms the Kremlin’s inability to assume any historical responsibility, and anticipates further diplomatic tensions that add to the already deteriorating Moscow-Europe relationship.[25][26]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Prolonged political clash — Moscow refuses outright; Poland maintains symbolic pressure, raising Russia’s reputational cost in Eastern Europe.[26][25]
– Scenario 2: contagion effect — other ex-Soviet countries explore similar symbolic avenues, consolidating the narrative of Russia as an occupying power rather than a liberating one.[25][26]
– Scenario 3: Internal instrumentalization — the Polish government uses the issue of reparations as a tool for national cohesion and to legitimize a hardline stance towards Moscow and, incidentally, to exert pressure on Berlin within the EU.[19][26]
7. Western “strangulation” of Russian oil: real possibility of forced production cuts
Facts
– Reuters underlines that the combination of sanctions, price caps, restrictions on insurers and ports, and European proposals to veto any actor that facilitates the maritime transport of Russian crude is bringing Moscow’s oil flows to a point of congestion: more than 150 million barrels are stored on ships, many sailing more slowly due to a lack of buyers.[27][5]
– India, until now the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude, would be reducing purchases as part of an understanding with Washington, while China, although important, is not willing to become overly dependent on a single supplier.[27][5]
Implications
The combination of sanctions and logistical limitations may force Russia to cut production by up to 300,000 barrels per day in the coming months, with a direct impact on its tax revenues, already weakened by the fall in the price of crude and the war effort in Ukraine.[5][27]
– For the West, this is the rare case of a pressure tactic that, if handled carefully, can weaken the Kremlin’s “war chest” without automatically triggering global prices, especially if other producers make up for some of the shortfall.[5]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Gradual strangulation — the combination of sanctions, pressure on the “shadow fleet” and reduced purchases by India and, to a lesser extent, China, forces Moscow to take lasting cuts, compelling it to spend reserves and cut social and military spending.[27][5]
– Scenario 2: Sophisticated evasion — Russia reinforces the opacity of its logistics chains, triangulates even more with intermediaries in Asia and the Middle East and takes advantage of regulatory loopholes to continue shipping crude at greater discounts.[5]
– Scenario 3: Geopolitical reaction —Moscow responds with residual energy blackmail, cyberattacks or disinformation campaigns to try to fracture the Western sanctions front.[19][5]
8. The US is strengthening its military presence in Nigeria against jihadism.
Facts
– Nearly 100 additional US military personnel have arrived in Nigeria as part of an expanded mission to combat Islamist insurgencies linked to the Islamic State and other groups in the north and northwest of the country.[7][28][29]
– The US presence, for now, is defined as “advisory and training,” without direct participation in combat, although the deployment of air and intelligence assets is becoming increasingly visible.[28][7]
Implications
– The US reinforcement is an implicit recognition that the Sahel and the African jihadist arc cannot be managed solely with local forces, which are often infiltrated, poorly equipped or undermined by corruption; at the same time, it avoids the vacuum left by the withdrawal or expulsion of European forces in other countries of the region.[7][28]
– Trump’s narrative, highly critical of Abuja’s inability to protect Christian communities, inserts this deployment into a logic of defending persecuted minorities and fighting Islamist terrorism head-on, consistent with the editorial line of zero tolerance towards jihadist barbarism.[28][7]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Containment — US reinforcement helps Nigeria stabilize certain areas, improve intelligence and limit the expansion of groups linked to Daech (ISIS) and Al Qaeda.[7][28]
– Scenario 2: dependence — local forces become accustomed to the American crutch without undergoing profound reform, prolonging the vicious cycle of state fragility and chronic violence.[7]
– Scenario 3: Regional escalation — terrorist groups respond with high-impact symbolic attacks and move into neighboring countries, widening the arc of instability.[28][7]
9. A changing of the guard in Bangladesh: Tarique Rahman, the new prime minister after Hasina’s fall
Facts
– Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been sworn in as prime minister following a landslide victory in the February 12 elections, the first since the 2024 mass uprising that toppled the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina.[6][30][31][32][33]
– The BNP has obtained a two-thirds majority, while Jamaat-e-Islami —legalized again after years of being banned— becomes the main opposition force; Hasina’s Awami League was excluded from the electoral process when the electoral commission withdrew its registration.[30][31][6]
Implications
– The return of the BNP, after almost two decades out of power and with Rahman back from a long exile in London, opens up a scenario of opportunities and risks: the new government promises to fight corruption and preserve freedom of expression, but it carries a history of clientelism and murky alliances.[31][32][6][30]
– At the regional level, Bangladesh —key to the balance of the Bay of Bengal and the India-China rivalry— becomes a terrain of diplomatic competition: both New Delhi and Beijing have sent signals of support and presence at the inauguration ceremony.[6][30]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Gradual democratization — Rahman fulfills his promises of institutional cleansing, improves the climate of freedoms and maintains a balanced foreign policy between India, China and the West.[30][31][6]
– Scenario 2: relapse —the logic of patrimonialization of the State, the weight of Jamaat and the tensions with the security forces lead to a new spiral of instability, which would further open the door to Chinese penetration.[6][30]
– Scenario 3: Islamist instrumentalization — if the government does not control the space, Jamaat’s new centrality could translate into a rise in Islamist jihadist networks, with regional impact.[34][30][6]
10. Trump, China and the energy chessboard: convergence of fronts
Facts
– Various reports show the convergence of three key fronts in Trump’s policy: maximum pressure on Iran (negotiations in Geneva under military threat), financial strangulation of Russia via energy sanctions, and the construction of a tough narrative against China, while criticizing allies who seek economic salvation in Beijing.[3][8][24][1][5]
– At the same time, the agenda of planned meetings between Trump and Xi throughout 2026, as well as China’s centrality in supply chains, reveal a combination of structural confrontation and the need for permanent dialogue.[35][24][1]
Implications
– The foreign policy of the current US administration is clearly realistic and transactional, but not isolationist: it seeks to renegotiate, condition and rebalance alliances and dependencies, in line with a Reaganite tradition of firmness combined with tough negotiation.[35][3][2]
– For Europe and the rest of the allies, this approach requires abandoning comfortable rhetoric and accepting that defending the liberal order demands military capabilities, energy resilience, and consistency in the face of China and Iran, not mere declarations of principles.[3][24][1][5]
Perspectives and scenarios
– Scenario 1: Orderly reconfiguration — coordinated pressure on Russia and Iran and the containment of China are managed with minimal Atlantic coordination, strengthening the Western negotiating position.[3][1][5]
– Scenario 2: Dealignment — allies seek economic shortcuts with China, are divided over Russia and fail to fully support a hard line against Iran, weakening the position of the US and the democracies as a whole.[24][1][3][5]
– Scenario 3: Systemic shock — a simultaneous crisis in the Middle East, Ukraine and the Taiwan Strait would test to the limit the West’s ability to sustain multiple fronts at once.[4][1][3][5]
III. MEDIA RACK
| Media / Region | Top story in the last 24 hours
| Reuters / US News | US-Iran negotiations in Geneva; US military deployment; Russian attacks on Ukrainian network; Russian oil under pressure. [3][4][5] |
| Financial Times | Mass migration in China via high-speed rail; Polish reparations campaign against Russia; war in Ukraine. [20][26][19] |
| The Economist / The Economist Brief | Trump pressure on Ukraine ahead of talks; Western allies shift towards Beijing. [17][1] |
| The New York Times | Tactical rapprochement of US allies with China “on Beijing’s terms”, concerns about American reliability. [24] |
| The Guardian / other Europeans | New government of Bangladesh with Tarique Rahman; context of Hasina’s fall and expectations of reforms. [32][6] |
| The Straits Times | Russian bombing of Ukrainian power grid ahead of peace negotiations; coverage of US-Iran talks. [13][9][15] |
| Indian media (Economic Times, Indian Express) | Rahman’s inauguration and geopolitical reconfiguration in the Bay of Bengal, with India-China competition. [30][31] |
| African/International Media | Reinforcement of the US military deployment in Nigeria to combat Islamist insurgencies. [7][28][29] |
| X / major news networks | Viral spread of Trump’s “peace process” framework regarding Ukraine and the Chinese narrative of diplomatic success. [16][23] |
| Analytical sources | Debate on the structural impact of energy sanctions on Russia and the resilience of the Putin regime. [5][27] |
IV. RISK TRAFFIC LIGHT
– Red (critical and immediate risk)
– US-Iran military escalation in the Strait of Hormuz: any abrupt failure in Geneva could trigger a chain of attacks and reprisals with a global impact on energy and maritime security.[9][8][3]
– Systematic Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure: the combination of energy terror and negotiations under duress erodes international law and pushes for an unjust peace.[13][14][4]
– Amber (high risk, open evolution)
– Growing dependence of Western allies on China: the “pilgrimage to Beijing” of European and North American leaders threatens to fracture Atlantic coherence.[1][24]
– Fragility of the energy architecture: possible forced cuts in Russian production, combined with tensions in the Middle East, could generate price shocks and new social vulnerabilities in Europe.[3][5]
– Political reconfiguration in Bangladesh with a strong Islamist presence in the opposition: a democratic opportunity, but also a risk of drift if reforms fail.[31][30][6]
– Green (strategic opportunities if managed well)
– Western strategy of gradually strangling the Russian war effort economically through energy sanctions and financial coercion.[27][5]
– Strengthening the US commitment against jihadist terrorism in Africa (Nigeria), which can close spaces for organizations such as Boko Haram and Daech franchises.[29][28][7]
– Possible use of combined military and diplomatic pressure to force Iran into a more restrictive agreement than previous attempts, especially if a firm front is maintained against its proxy network.[8][11][3]
V. EDITORIAL COMMENTARY
Today leaves us with a clear picture of the decisive battle being waged between those who believe in a rules-based international order and those who see force—military, energy, or demographic—as a legitimate instrument for rewriting reality to suit their needs. It is not an abstract dispute between blocs, but a concrete struggle in the streets of Kyiv, darkened by Russian missiles, in the waters teeming with frigates and submarines around the Strait of Hormuz, on the high-speed rail lines crisscrossing China at 300 kilometers per hour, and in European ministries queuing in disciplined fashion before Xi Jinping to beg for growth.[20][4][24][1][3]
Faced with Moscow’s brutality, which is once again using winter and energy as weapons, the Western response cannot be resigned weariness or a poorly stitched peace that leaves Ukraine crippled and the Kremlin convinced that the crime pays off. The massive attacks on the Ukrainian power grid on the eve of the Geneva talks are more than just a military episode: they are a message of utter contempt for the very idea of honest negotiation and moral limits in war. To sit down at the table ignoring this fact would be to accept that coercion against civilians is just another currency in the diplomatic marketplace.[13][14][4][2]
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime presents itself in Switzerland as a rational actor, willing to negotiate if the “economic strangulation” is lifted, while continuing to repress its population and project terrorism and instability through Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian Iraqi militias, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas. The only lesson learned from decades of failed appeasement is that Tehran only responds to a combination of intense economic pressure, diplomatic isolation, and military credibility. In this respect, the Trump administration’s stance—to negotiate, yes, but with a naval air group behind it and a clear red line on the nuclear and missile programs—is far more consistent with defending the security of Israel, the moderate Gulf monarchies, and freedom of navigation than the soft experiments of the past.[10][12][9][8][3]
The other major theme of the day is the silent but relentless advance of Chinese power. The image of the largest human migration in history, organized with railway efficiency, and the parade of Western leaders through Beijing explains better than a thousand speeches why China has managed to project a blend of “soft power” and hard power that fascinates societies exhausted by their own pessimism. But behind the ultramodern stations, the gleaming trains, and the impeccable military honors lies a stagnant economy, a security apparatus that purges inconvenient generals, and a regime that has no interest whatsoever in curbing its practices of espionage, economic coercion, and repression of rights. The risk is not that Europe talks to China—it must—but that it does so from a place of need and dependence, not from strength and a clear set of values.[21][20][24][1]
Russia’s strategy begins with understanding that the war in Ukraine is not won solely on the battlefield, but also at oil terminals and in the Kremlin’s revenue stream. Reports of forced production cuts due to logistical bottlenecks and the withdrawal of buyers like India demonstrate that sustained and consistent Western pressure is effective. The aim is not to punish the Russian people, but to make it clear that a war of aggression cannot be indefinitely financed with the profits from selling crude oil to the very countries that claim to uphold international law. Here, Europe and the US have a moral and strategic obligation to maintain this stance, even if the domestic political cost of the sanctions is uncomfortable.[4][27][5]
On the periphery, the reinforcement of US troops in Nigeria and the changing political landscape in Bangladesh serve as reminders that the great battle for liberal democracy is also being fought in arenas that for years were viewed with complacency from Brussels and Washington. The fight against jihadism in Africa is not a charitable gesture; it is a global security imperative: every space left to Boko Haram, Daesh franchises, or Al Shabab is a potential sanctuary of barbarism and a source of instability that will eventually return to our own cities. And in South Asia, the post-Hasina transition opens up a space in which India, China, and the West will test their strength to influence a fragile and strategically important democracy.[29][30][31][6][28][7]
All of this is happening while President Trump is pressuring Ukraine to accept negotiations that, if properly designed, could end a devastating war, but if poorly conceived, could legitimize Russian territorial revisionism. This is where a liberal, Atlanticist, and pro-European center-right perspective must be especially demanding: supporting firmness in the face of aggression, recognizing the merits of a pragmatic foreign policy that has achieved results in several regional conflicts, but rejecting any temptation to sacrifice basic principles—territorial integrity, sovereignty, punishment for war crimes—for the sake of a quick and photogenic peace.[16][2][4][5]
In short, today confirms that we have entered a phase of “hard realism” in which the defense of representative liberal democracy, the regulated market economy, and the well-managed welfare state cannot be delegated to either aseptic technocrats or populists of either extreme. It requires moral clarity in the face of dictatorships—from Moscow to Tehran, from Beijing to the Latin American narco-regimes—rigor in the defense of fundamental rights and freedoms, outright rejection of neoliberalism and identity ideologies that fracture our societies, and, above all, a recovery of the pride of belonging to the space of democratic reason that made the Spanish transition possible and the success of the Atlantic democracies for decades.[4][5][24][1][3]
Sources
[1] Why American allies are flocking to see Xi Jinping in Beijing https://www.economist.com/china/2026/02/16/why-american-allies-are-flocking-to-see-xi-jinping-in-beijing
[2] Trump, Pressing Ahead on Ukraine-Russia Talks, Confronts Difficult Realities https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/us/politics/trump-zelensky-putin-ukraine-russia.html
[3] US and Iran begin nuclear talks in Geneva as threat of war looms https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-iran-set-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-geneva-threat-war-looms-2026-02-17/
[4] Russia Pummels Ukraine’s Power Grid Before Talks https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-02-17/russia-pummels-ukraines-power-grid-before-talks
[5] Suffocating Western pressure may finally force Russian oil … https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/suffocating-western-pressure-may-finally-force-russian-oil-output-cuts-2026-02-16/
[6] Tarique Rahman sworn in as Bangladesh’s PM after landslide election victory https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/tarique-rahman-sworn-bangladeshs-pm-after-landslide-election-victory-2026-02-17/
[7] Nigeria says 100 US forces arrive, expanding mission https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nigeria-says-100-us-forces-175051267.html
[8] US and Iran Set for High-Stakes Nuclear Talks in Geneva as Threat of War Looms https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-02-17/us-and-iran-set-for-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-geneva-as-threat-of-war-looms
[9] US and Iran begin nuclear talks in Geneva as threat of war looms https://www.straitstimes.com/world/us-and-iran-set-for-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-geneva-as-threat-of-war-looms
[10] US and Iran set for high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva as threat of … https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/us-and-iran-set-for-high-stakes-nuclear-talks-in-geneva-as-threat-of-war-looms
[11] Iran says potential energy, mining and aircraft deals on table in talks … https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-open-nuclear-deal-compromises-if-us-discusses-lifting-sanctions-minister-2026-02-15/
[12] Exclusive: US military preparing for potentially weeks-long Iran… https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-military-preparing-potentially-weeks-long-iran-operations-2026-02-13/
[13] Russia pummels Ukraine’s power grid with drones… https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-pummels-ukraines-power-grid-before-talks
[14] Russia pummels Ukraine’s power grid before talks https://www.marketscreener.com/news/russia-pummels-ukraine-s-power-grid-before-talks-ce7e5dd8de8df420
[15] Russia pummels Ukraine’s power grid before talks | The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/russia-pummels-ukraines-power-grid-before-talks
[16] Donald Trump’s peace process is tilted against Ukraine https://x.com/TheEconomist/status/1995372358140301368
[17] The world in brief | The Economist https://www.economist.com/the-world-in-brief
[18] Trump’s new Ukraine stance is meant to pressure Putin, officials say, despite lack of sanctions or military aid https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/politics/ukraine-trump-putin-pressure
[19] War in Ukraine https://www.ft.com/war-in-ukraine
[20] China’s high-speed rail network accelerates world’s largest human… https://www.ft.com/content/3c15be3c-bb91-49e9-8fb4-6388b948ad2d
[21] China Kicks Off Its Largest Human Migration With Over Nine Billion… https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/china-kicks-off-its-largest-human-migration-with-over-nine-billion-trips-pushing-national-transportation-infrastructure-and-visa-systems-to-new-heights/
[22] Chunyun: GBA at the epicenter of the world’s largest human migration https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/chunyun-gba-at-the-epicenter-of-the-worlds-largest-human-migration.html
[24] US Allies Are Drawing Closer to China, but on Beijing’s Terms https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/world/asia/trump-xi-starmer-carney.html
[25] Poland Prepares Reparations Lawsuit Against Russia https://voennoedelo.com/en/posts/id13235-poland-prepares-reparations-lawsuit-against-russia
[26] Poland extends war reparations campaign to Russia https://www.ft.com/content/ba2d11d9-271b-4960-93e3-e352879be4dc
[27] Suffocating Western pressure may finally force Russian oil … https://www.1lurer.am/en/2026/02/16/Suffocating-Western-pressure-may-finally-force-Russian-oil-output-cuts-Reuters/1464652
[28] Nigeria Says 100 US Forces Arrive, Expanding Mission https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-02-16/nigeria-says-100-us-forces-arrive-expanding-mission
[29] Nigeria says 100 more US military personnel arrive to… https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-says-100-us-forces-arrive-expanding-mission-2026-02-16/
[30] Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh prime minister after … https://economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/tarique-rahman-takes-oath-as-bangladesh-prime-minister-after-bnps-landslide/articleshow/128459801.cms
[31] Tarique Rahman to Lead Bangladesh as First Male PM in 30 Years https://indianexpress.com/article/world/tarique-rahman-sworn-in-bangladesh-prime-minister-bnp-victory-13th-parliament-10536076/
[32] Bangladesh’s incoming PM Tarique Rahman sworn into parliament https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/17/bangladesh-pm-tarique-rahman-election-prime-minister-sworn-in
[33] Incoming Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman, legislators sworn into parliament https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/17/incoming-bangladesh-pm-tarique-rahman-lawmakers-sworn-into-parliament
[34] Bangladesh PM-in-waiting Rahman appeals for unity as BNP… https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/14/bnp-wins-bangladesh-election-tarique-rahman-set-to-be-prime-minister
[35] What Are Trump and China Secretly Preparing for 2026? https://www.rfbnews.com/index.php/en/economic-news/economy/97-global-economy/99002-what-are-trump-and-china-secretly-preparing-for-2026
[36] Tarique Rahman To Take Oath As Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Today https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/tarique-rahman-to-take-oath-as-bangladeshs-prime-minister-today-11011574
[37] Tarique Rahman – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarique_Rahman
[38] US and Iran begin nuclear talks in Geneva as threat of war looms… https://uk.news.yahoo.com/us-iran-set-high-stakes-050320679.html
[39] Iran will deliver ‘strong blow’ against US if it attacks, Khamenei says https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-rebuffs-trump-threat-over-nuclear-deal-2025-03-31/
[40] Ryan McMorrow – Financial Times https://www.ft.com/ryan-mcmorrow
[41] China expands rail pet transport as furry friends join Spring Festival… https://macaubusiness.com/china-expands-rail-pet-transport-as-furry-friends-join-spring-festival-rush/
[42] Financial Times: Home https://www.ft.com
[43] Poland reveals plans to make Russia pay for WWII https://www.rt.com/news/575635-poland-war-reparations-russia/
[44] Suffocating US & Western Pressure May Finally Force Russian Oil … https://energynow.com/2026/02/suffocating-us-western-pressure-may-finally-force-russian-oil-output-cuts-bousso/
[45] How China Connected 1.4 Billion People With Trains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlR_4b51g-4