Russia’s trade and investment into the Middle East is rapidly developing, with relations both through the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League all helping boost bilateral trade by 25% during 2025. Partially driven by the developments along the INSTC, and new regional free trade agreements, we provide analysis of the growing Russia-Middle East economic partnership. Discover trade statistics, investment flows from the GCC, and business opportunities for companies in both regions.
Is multiculturalism dead – or just moving away from the West to the Global South? The joint Russia-India film ‘Persimmon of my Love’ has been playing to rave reviews on a national release in Russia, while co-BRICS film productions are also underway between Russia and Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia amongst others.
Russia is bringing in new cryptocurrency laws from July 1 which have the potential to revolutionise Eurasian and global trade finance and especially with China, India, ASEAN and the Middle East. We examine the laws in detail and analyse what they mean in the next generation of international financial flows.
The Russian and Turkish Foreign MInisters have been holding extensive talks in Moscow. We deep dive what was discussed, and the evolution of bilateral relations into a strategic alliance between the Caucasus and the Middle East with significant implications for Eurasia. This is essential reading for anyone involved in the Black Sea and regional trade and investment.
While the United States and Iran apparently reaching a peace agreement, the war has nevertheless permanently changed global supply chains. We look at the reasons behind the conflict, the immediate aftermath, and the regional development implications for Russia, China and the Eurasian continent as a whole.
Pakistan’s influence and strategic potential as a gateway to Southern Eurasia and South Asia for Russia is rapidly developing. Bilateral trade tripled last year, while major infrastructure developments are poised to take place in transport and energy. We provide a detailed overview of an often neglected area of Russia’s reach deep into Asia.
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Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran have agreed on digitalising their road freight transport connectivity, in moves that make cross-border transits more efficient and are likely to lead to driverless drone trucks being utilised for trilateral road freight journeys in the near future.
Despite and probably due to the war in southern Iran, its Caspian Sea connectivity through the INSTC network has boomed with increases of 68% in volumes during the first four months of 2026. A new Caspian sea vessel has been deployed while both Russian and Iranian exports along the route have significantly expanded.
Russia is shortly to agree reciprocal visa-free travel with nationals of Indonesia, Malaysia and Kuwait in a major boost to the tourism sectors to all these countries and Russian nationals.
Iran is resuming normal trade flows with the Eurasian Economic Union and Russia despite the conflict with the United States. Iran’s problems with the US have been localised to the southern coast, however trade routes north to the Caspian are booming. There has been no “US invasion” to nationally disrupt Eurasain trade flows.
The UAE, despite its Iran/US war problems, is poised to enter into a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. The war has meant opportunities exist for Russian and EAEU corporates replacing European investors who have exited.
The North Caucasus Investment Forum showcased an up and coming region of southern Russia that is creating a specific transport corridor from the Russian heartland to the Middle East and Central Asia. We deep dive the economic progress and provide a thorough analysis of developments in this enigmatic and little understood region.
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