We have a lot of Russian 2025 trade data this week, with Russian agricultural exports in particular showing significant increases of various products on a global basis. Of political note were important bilateral Presidential discussions with the UAE and Syria, while we provide a focus on Russia’s Middle East alternatives as concerns Iran. Strategically, Russia’s involvement in the Middle East is additionally designed to access markets in Africa. Russia also made substantial inroads into the Indian aviation market with the announcement of a JV to manufacture passenger jets. Russia is also increasing its gas supplies to China - we provide a comparison of household gas costs in China and the European Union. Russia also added 615 tonnes of gold to its reserves last year, worth in this commodity alone an estimated US$97 billion. Talks of the Russian economy imploding remain rhetoric as opposed to reality. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

We have a great deal of Russia 2025 export data this week, and especially in the agricultural sector to the Middle East. This is of note as these trends indicate that the INSTC transport network is making a significant difference in Russian trade. With concerns over potential US political and military intervention in Iran growing, we also note that Russia appears to be making alternative supply chain developments elsewhere in the Middle East should the US attack Iran again. Such a situation would bring long-term supply chain regional developments should this occur. Elsewhere, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s speech about the state of the Russian economy rebuffs Western claims of collapse, while interesting policy changes are of note as concerns China and India. Questions are also raised about the long-term viability of commodities exchanges such as the London Metal Exchange when the bourse has no actual physical access to the commodities it trades. Russia’s SPIMEX aims to change that. Finally, we take a critical look at Davos 2026 and ask if it has lost its way in terms of any global usefulness, or has now devolved into a club for the rich. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This week we pose some tough questions about a pending Russian economic collapse, a Chinese invasion of the Russian Far East and, according to US President Donald Trump, Russia’s interest in Greenland. We also discuss an end to the Ukraine conflict, and examine all of these scenarios in detail and provide some surprising analysis. In other analysis, we look into Trump’s proposed 500% tariffs on countries (principally China and India) buying Russian oil, how China has supplanted Europe as the main buyer of Russian gas, important coordination between Russia and India in developing new maritime logistics, and examine China’s renewed interest in forming Russian Joint Ventures. Finally, we report from Venezuela and see how Russian investments are operating there given Trump’s recent claims ‘the United States is running the country’. The Russian New Year began yesterday (January 14). With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Happy Russian Christmas! In this weekly update, coming on the back of unprecedented US actions in Latin America, we examine the state of global relations as a divide between the Western and Eastern hemispheres appears to be underway. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation bloc is shaping up to be a significant player in the Eurasian half. Within the eastern hemisphere, we examine the US$1 trillion spend India is committing to as part of its global maritime connectivity, with two major projects that will significantly impact Russian supply chains. We discuss a new Volga River – Caspian sea route to Iran, take a good look at the state of Russia-China trade and investment, examine Mongolia’s proposed NPP and ponder what may happen with Russia’s lithium interests in Bolivia. Finally, we look into our crystal ball and make some predictions for what 2026 may hold for the Moscow Stock Exchange. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

With the Festive Season upon us, diplomatic activity has slowed down this past week, however there are some items of note: Moscow’s spectacular rise as a leading MICE destination, key cross-border infrastructure developments with Georgia and China, Islamic Finance potential in Russia, and a new, export-assertive sector emerging - as can be seen with efforts to develop the Philippines domestic consumer market. Elsewhere we look at Russia stock market predictions for 2026, which range from an economic collapse to 40% growth. Whatever 2026 eventually brings, we hope that it will prove a year of peace and harmonic improvements for all our readers. Happy New Year! With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Merry Christmas! We have three important updates this week, most notably President Putin’s explanation of how the Russian economy fared during the year at his annual “Direct Line” public Q&A session, the Eurasian Economic Council summit in Moscow, and the Russia-African Ministerial Summit held in Cairo. The latter two were highly significant for Eurasian and African continental development. In Eurasia, new 2026-27 budgets were agreed and a significant number of development projects green lit, while the Africa event attracted over 50 African Ministers. Bilateral feedback from that is also now emerging – we examine developments with Botswana and Zambia. Elsewhere, we provide trade data on where Indian export opportunities lie in the Russian market, look at the South Asian SAARC and BIMSTEC trade blocs, and examine in detail this week’s new Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia. We also discuss in some detail the fundamental reasons why Western sanctions have failed and touch upon Russian investments into the Arctic, ASEAN and China. ​Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This week has seen – perhaps - the beginning of a negotiated settlement over Ukraine, although we also highlight some of the issues that the West has apparently not considered – integration and the reasons why some of these regions are pro-Russia. Relations with the CIS run deeper than Ukraine has existed. Elsewhere, the news is pretty much all tech related – from digitisation throughout Eurasia to AI in stock market analysis. We also showcase developments linking the Arctic to Asia, and several studies on how Central Asia is increasingly connectivity with the Middle East. While political eyes are on European leaders and the dances they are involved with, and America seems tied to securing LatAm oil reserves in its backyard, the true infrastructure revolution appears to be going on the Eastern Eurasia – from Russia to China, from the Arctic to India, and from Central Asia, via the Middle East, to Islamic Africa. These are geopolitical changes not being described or even acknowledged elsewhere. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

It’s been another busy week for Russian diplomacy, trade and investment development, with our extensive update concerning the results of Putin’s state visit to India, and strategic meetings and G2G and B2B investment forums taking place in the UAE, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. We also examine the United States’ new National Security Strategy and what that implies for Russia, and take in regional updates with ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Union and Pakistan, and examine the solutions to Hungary’s energy needs. Finally – we take a look at Russia’s record values in its gold reserves – up US$92 billion this year without Moscow having to do anything. We answer the reasons why. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

We kick off this week with a detailed look at Putin’s State Visit To India, which begins today and will include high-level meetings as part of their annual summit. We provide a deep dive into the discussions and highlight already advanced topics capable of changing global trade flows. Elsewhere, of particular note are significant developments in the INSTC that again will change Eurasian trade flows, and Putin’s meetings in Kyrgyzstan, with similar impacts in Central Asia, and the Russia-Saudi Arabia Business Forum, capable of instigating the same in the Middle East. These continental-shifting alliances continue over to Latin America with a 42-point agreement made with Venezuela. Putin himself also gave a detailed analysis of the state of the Russian economy at the “Russia Calling!” forum held this week in Moscow, a revealing deep dive into where Russia is and where it is now headed, and a long way from the ‘collapse’ predicted elsewhere. Western patriots will not like it, but Russia this week has been proving it is a major player in shaping tomorrow’s world – and has the economy and global capabilities to achieve its objectives. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The main strategic news this past week has been Russia’s involvement in the G20 in South Africa, the COP30 climate change summit in Brazil, the Russia-China Energy Forum in Beijing, and President Putin’s current state visit to Kyrgyzstan. These look set to continue the gradual moulding of global affairs into a global ‘multipolar’ structure as the West essentially is unable to do anything except look on. On a regional basis, we examine the revitalisation of Mariupol Port, a telling story of Ukrainian poor judgement and Russian restoration. Africa features prominently in trade development, as does the Middle East, India, China and Latin America. The pace and intensity of Moscow’s global outreach remain at staggeringly high levels. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The key event this week has been the Heads of Government meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation taking place in Moscow. We discuss Putin’s speech, the developing SCO alternative global financial architecture and an overview of what this means in the global context. In India we look at preparations for Putin’s December visit and the latest in bilateral trade and investment and examine Russia’s growing trade and infrastructure developments in reaching into the Middle East. Additional bilateral services between Russia and China have come online, while the current taste for investing in the Russian market and stock market also continues. Russian companies are also making inroads into markets in Africa, Central Asia, and are poised to open banking services in Mongolia. All are part of the trend in re-arranging the global trade furniture. It is important that MNCs and Governments remain up to date with these developments or risk being left behind. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There has been a typically diverse multinational set of developments this past week as Russia continues to push its global push across all points of the compass – except to the West. There are significant plans for the development of the Transarctic Corridor – we discuss how this integrates with the Northern Sea Route. INSTC developments continue to run apace as more Russian cities pivot to Asian supply chains - this week we feature developments in Tatarstan and Novorossiysk. We also explain the changing dynamics in Russia-China trade, deep dive Russia’s trade and investment into Africa, and pose serious questions concerning Western capabilities in accurately assessing Russian economic data, both as part of sanctions impacting global institutions and as regards what data the West is being fed. There are shocking and revealing conclusions. The Truth Is Out There. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia