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Featured April 15, 2026

Russia Inserts Itself Into Global Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Output By Banning Helium Exports

Global supplies of helium have dropped by 30% after Qatar, the world’s largest producer has had exports dry up as a result of the Iran war. The United States is now the largest global exporter and is making huge mark ups on supplies to its allies. Russia is the world’s third largest exporter and has banned exports to ‘unfriendly countries’. Helium is a critical gas for use in semi-conductor and other hi-tech manufacturing. This is very bad news for European and some East Asian IT manufacturers, with global ramifications.

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April 14, 2026

Russian, Indonesian Presidents Meet: Bilateral Update April 2026 

The Russian and Indonesian Presidents are meeting in Moscow to discuss trade development, along with their respective economic and trade teams. Indonesia is a full member of BRICS, and has a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union that entered into force last year. Bilateral trade is currently worth about US$4.7 billion.

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April 8, 2026

Rosatom Delivers Nuclear Fuel To China’s Xudabao NPP as Bangladesh and Turkiye NPP Also Set To Come Onstream

Russia’s TVEL, a subsidiary of Rosatom, has begun delivering nuclear fuel to China’s Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant in Liaoning Province, while also starting work at China’s Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China’s Jiangsu Province. Similar operations are expected to take place this year in Bangladesh and Turkiye.

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April 6, 2026

Russia’s Expanding Energy, Trade and Strategic Engagement in South Asia: Analysis

Russia has stepped up diplomatic and energy supply chain developments this past month with visits to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, while Pakistan and Afghanistan, both bordering Iran, are also developing as key links in new emerging South Asian oil and gas infrastructure and architecture. We examine what is happening in a region that Russia is almost right in the centre of as regards energy security and future supplies.

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April 5, 2026

Russia In ASEAN: “Russia In Global Affairs” April 2026

Two senior Russian officials have released a joint analysis concerning Russia’s views of ASEAN, its relations with BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Eurasian Economic Union and its role in defining the emerging new world order. It is essential geopolitical strategic reading for anyone interested in Southeast Asia and its relations with Russia, and the developing multipolar world.

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