Russia’s relationships with Europe vary from warm, with trade partners such as Hungary, Serbia, and Slovakia, to the frigid (most of the European Union and the UK). In between are lesser discussed regions in the Balkans with closer historical ties to Moscow than to Brussels. We examine some of these borderline areas and provide analysis and updates where appropriate along the Russia-European axis.
In this article we look at other global commodities that are produced in the Middle East and at how this conflict benefits the United States, as well as areas where Russia also stands to gain. We look at where shortages are likely to arise with the cost of resulting higher prices, and what this means for Europe in particular.
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.
The development of the multipolar world is taking effect. We feature analysis of what this means for the United States, China, the European Union, United Kingdom and Russia in an article especially written for Russia’s Pivot To Asia’s readers by a Russian State Councillor.
Western media has missed an important legal and precedence issue concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which is seeing international maritime law being replaced with force. The implications of this break down could affect all global shipping, including around the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, Baltic Sea and English Channel. We look at the extremely serious implications of what is happening, including maritime legal expertise.
Russia’s Rosmorport is negotiating the construction of a maritime hub in Abkhazia, servicing the Black Sea region. Other investors from Africa and Asia are also involved in the project, which would reduce Abkhazia’s dependence on Russian ports and provide additional Black Sea logistics alternatives.
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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.
Russia’s Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Maxim Oreshkin, has stated that Russia’s foreign trade has increased, not decreased since western sanctions were imposed on the country in 2022. We crunch the numbers to look at what has changed and where Russian exports markets have declined, increased, and in which commodities.
Iran has stated it will only allow ships from Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Iraq through the Strait of Hormuz. We look at the wider implications as the conflict spreads beyond military force and is now being impacted by anti-conflict Western financiers with specific implications for Europe, Asia and the United States. Western politicians are no longer being supported by their own backers.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has stated that Russia will not export oil to any countries imposing a price cap. This affects all the G7 nations including the European Union, who have imposed price caps at US$45 a barrel for Russian fuel oil. However, volatility created by the conflict in Iran has seen prices fluctuate between US$75 to above US$100 a barrel while Russia has shifted its energy export priorities to markets in Asia. JP Morgan analysts suggest the price could reach US$150 a barrel if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened soon.
Russia has agreed to extend a gas supply contract with Serbia ‘on favourable terms’ following conversations between the Russian and Serbian Presidents. The existing contract was due to expire on March 31. Alternative energy supplies to Serbia have significantly dropped since the Iran conflict began, however Belgrade has a good relationship with Moscow meaning it can mitigate against these problems.
Russia has invited scientists from ‘friendly countries’ to participate in nuclear energy research at the world’s largest such facility, RIAR in Dimitrovgrad. This excludes European scientists. We examine the differences between Russia and Europe’s nuclear power generation capabilities, the reasons for this exclusion and Rosatom’s developing plans for expanding nuclear energy use on an international basis.
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