How Pacific nations walk a tightrope between Western security and Chinese trade

On paper, Western countries are rushing to sign defence pacts in the South Pacific, ensuring their influence in a region long neglected as a geopolitical backwater. But on the water, the island nations are playing a very different game. Instead of taking sides, local leaders are leveraging the geopolitical tug of war b

US-Oman ties face strain as Muscat walks tightrope between Washington and Tehran  thenationalnews.com