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.
Russia’s Uranium One Group (part of TENEX, a Rosatom subsidiary) and Brazil’s NBEPar have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in Brazil. Part of the new companies remit will be to assess and develop uranium deposits in the country with an additional view of developing Brazil’s nuclear energy sector.
The crisis in the Middle East has disrupted maritime logistics between China and Europe, with operators reconsidering Russian and Eurasian overland routes. But these too face difficulties as Russian Railways is close to full capacity and political divisions have closed off EU-Russian borders. While there are options for Russia-Asia supply chains, the Eurasian routes remain problematic for European importers. We discuss what could be done to allieviate the situation.
The Iran conflict has cut off Europe from its normal Southeast Asian aviation routes, yet Russia has been able to call on regional members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as its new Asian diplomatic strategy, to reroute flights to the east and use Eurasian connectivity to access Southeast Asian tourist destinations. This move could ultimately open up new transport hubs in Central Asia to service these markets in problems persist in the Middle East.
The media coverage of the spill-over consequences of the military conflict in the Middle East has concentrated on energy shortages, and especially in the immediate region and Europe. However, there are numerous other commodities impacted as well. In this article we describe the benefits and problems this has brought to Russia – and other Eurasian and global actors. We discuss these in detail.
Russian fuel prices have also risen due to the situation in Iran but are expected to return to normal due to replacement from domestic supplies. However there remain some Middle East supply chain and processing bottlenecks. We examine the supply chain trends.
Subscribe to receive exclusive insights and analysis on Europe.
Russian overseas tourists now spend more on their foreign holidays than European visitors do. A combination of higher purchasing power, disposable income and other factors mean the wealth spending factor is now with the Russians. We explain the reasons why this is so.
Russia has made the decision to redirect most of its EU-bound LNG supplies to Asia ahead of the EU’s planned 2027 termination as it wishes to develop new markets instead of concentrate on declining markets. It is unfortunate for the EU that this also coincides with EU energy supply chain problems with the Middle East.
Russian President Putin has assured the Hungarian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister that Russia will do everything in its power to maintain gas supplies to the country. However, he has also said he may shortly cease gas supplies to Europe as Russia is looking for new markets to develop and the European supply situation is a dead-end for Russia. That puts the EU in a serious predicament as supplies from the Middle East are also drying up. We look at how Europe got into this position, and has diminished its standing with Moscow without making adequate contingency plans.
Russia’s Port Favor, near St.Petersburg, is aiming to double fertilizer exports as it gears up with expanded facilities, including recent increases of Ammonia exports. It remains a key supplier to come European markets.
The first Chinese container shipping services are set to re-commence along the Northern Sea Route to Murmansk in early summer. Usage of this passage hit record volumes last year.
The situation in Iran is creating serious security and supply chain problems in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea regions. We examine the wider geopolitical and energy issues that stretch far beyond Iran. However, architecture is in place to push back against US pressures – we examine the potential collaborations between Russia and China as well as their regional allies.
Русский
