Patrick Baaklini
-
Strait of Hormuz Crisis (2026): Strategic Challenges and Paths to Resolution
Patrick Baaklini The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis has become one of the most serious geopolitical flashpoints between the United States and Iran. This strategic waterway is essential to the global energy trade, and instability there can have direct consequences for oil prices, inflation, shipping costs, and international markets. For professionals and students studying negotiation,…
-
In Secretive Oman Talks, U.S. and Iran Weigh a Fragile Peace Against the Brink of War
Written by Patrick Baaklini MUSCAT, Oman — In the cool, marbled corridors of a royal guest palace on the outskirts of Muscat, the future of the Middle East is being bartered in whispers and relayed through intermediaries. After a year defined by the thunder of aerial bombardments and the smoke of street protests, the United…
-
Trade Negotiations Under Pressure: How Nations Navigate Tariff Wars and Free Trade Agreements
by Patrick Baaklini An Era of Rising Protectionism At a time of resurgent protectionism and geopolitical realignment, trade negotiations have become more crucial and more complex than ever. The ongoing negotiations between India and the European Union over a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) offer a compelling case study in modern trade diplomacy, revealing how negotiations…