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.
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.
As readers will be well aware from reports elsewhere, the United States, in conjunction with Israel, has attacked Iran. We will make some initial observations, but generally speaking will not be focusing on this conflict (as is also the case with Ukraine) for the following reasons: We can however make some initial observations as regards […]
Russia’s Pivot To Asia has taken a tentative look back over its shoulder to the West as Norway appeared among the buyers of Russian margarine for the first time in 2025, according to the Russian Agroexport Federal Center. Margarine products worth more than 21 million krone (€1.86 million) were shipped to the Norwegian market, Agroexport […]
Russia and Belarus are planning to launch cross-border suburban trains, which will operate on the basis of free movement within the Eurasian Economic Union, according to Alexander Khoroshevich, First Deputy Head of the Belarusian Railways. Citizens of both countries and foreigners holding residence visas of either may use the cross-border service without needing to pass […]
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Russia and Belarus plan to sign an agreement to build a third power unit at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelNPP) by the end of this year, according to Belarusian Energy Minister Denis Moroz. He stated that “There is an instruction from Belarusian President Lukashenko on the need for another unit at the Belarusian Nuclear […]
Two more companies, Perpecia and Gekolina Investments, have relocated from Cyprus to the Oktyabrsky Island SAR in Kaliningrad. Perpecia is 100% owned by Adorabella LLC, and Gekolina Investments Limited is 100% owned by Chlodwig Enterprises LLC. Both of these companies had previously redomiciled from Switzerland to the Oktyabrsky Island SAR in 2023. They are subsidiaries […]
Part One of a Seven-Part Series in which we document the rise of the new outbound Russian entrepreneurial investor. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has emerged as one of the most strategically contested economic theaters of the 2020s. No longer defined solely by hydrocarbons, the Gulf today represents a global capital allocator, logistics nexus, […]
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held meetings in Moscow with Alen Simonyan, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, on Thursday (February 5). The discussions have taken place during a period when Armenia has been looking to limit its engagement with Russia. Yerevan has suspended cooperation with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), […]
A ceremony to pour the first concrete for the Paks II nuclear power plant in Hungary has taken place, according to Rosatom, the Russian state corporation carrying out the project. They stated that “The first concrete for the reactor building’s foundation marks the facility’s transition to the status of ‘nuclear power plant under construction’ according […]
Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller has been discussing collaboration in existing and prospective projects with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Board Chairman Dai Houliang in Beijing, according to Gazprom. A company statement says, “The reliable operation of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, the eastern route, was particularly noted. Gas supplies via the pipeline totaled 38.8 […]
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