News Archives

This week has been dominated by the 2025 BRICS annual summit in Rio de Janeiro, with President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov both giving detailed speeches into the development of the organisation. Their views are in direct 180-degree contrast with Western media opinion. We also cover Russia’s updated bilateral relations with several LatAm nations, including the potential for a Bilateral Investment Treaty being prepared with Mexico. Elsewhere, we discuss highway infrastructure developments across the SCO, and the latest updates on CSTO security throughout Eurasia. Moscow has now officially recognised the Taliban as the legitimate government in Afghanistan, the first country to do so, while there have been significant trade developments with Saudi Arabia. We also examine Ukrainian culture in the Baltics, a hot topic when posted earlier this week attaining over 250,000 views.​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The message in this week’s round up is the sheer global diversity of Russia’s push towards building new supply chains throughout the global south. A scroll down will illustrate this, with projects ranging from a doubling of trade within the Eurasian Economic Union, nuclear power developments in Africa and Asia, huge agricultural export trends in the Middle East, a delivery of a Frigate to India, massive increases of base metal exports to China, the return of Russian direct flights to the Caribbean and Colombia joining the BRICS New Development Bank being just a few. The only similar, concentrated government effort to re-establish a countries entire supply chains we can recall is China’s giant Belt & Road Initiative, which began in 2013 in Kazakhstan, and is still on-going. What we are seeing Russia do today is almost exactly the same.​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There has been a great deal of activity this week due to the annual SPIEF Russian investment forum taking place in St.Petersburg. President Putin provided a candid plenary speech and Q&A session, both featured here, and both essential reading for Russia watchers. Elsewhere, Russia’s nuclear power exports made significant strides in Africa, and Asia with numerous agreements being signed. Logistics and Eurasian trade also saw huge developments with a pan Eurasian Commodities Exchange being announced and logistics hubs being set up to service the CIS, SCO, Middle Eastern and Chinese markets. Even Cuba got in on the act, to develop Port Mariel with Russian investment to service LatAm markets in the Gulf of America. Trade and Investment agreements were also signed with Indonesia and Myanmar, while we also discuss the impact of the new A7A5 ruble-linked stablecoin.​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Amongst all the Iran-Israel noise this week, Russia has been continuing its domestic and regional development with significant updates on new INSTC supply chain routes, substantial localised high-speed rail and aviation production, and increased new market export volumes. The BRICS energy alliance is also poised to change the way international finance is structured – these are all developments that are shifting global consumption, consumer markets and trade flows. Much is being ignored amongst all the conflict debates – yet Russia is moving rapidly ahead in trade, investment and infrastructure builds in ways not generally understood – deliberately or otherwise – in the West.​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This past week has seen plenty of domestic infrastructure investment activity take place in Russia, in strong echoes of how China built up its economy in the early 2000’s. Much of this is geared towards the manufacturing export sector, which points the way to Russia becoming a major global exporter by 2030 – completely the opposite of Western statements concerning the Russian economy. In addition to Russia, we feature important financial data, including the most recent Russian credit rating, comment on the new EU sanctions and discuss Russia’s development planning within the INSTC, Iran, Pakistan and India, as well as the prospects for LNG supplies to Latin America. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There has been plenty of Russian logistics developments over the past week, ranging from the expansion of Russia’s inland rivers - with navigable lengths similar to that of its railways – to significant decisions being taken concerning the growth of the INSTC south, and east. It has also been a big week in terms of Eurasian security development potential – the reemergence of the RIC (Russia, India, China) triad and proposals for continental-wide structures that could include some current EU members. Elsewhere, we discuss upcoming Free Trade Agreements, examine existing trade with the UAE, India and China and look at Russia’s summer 2025 tourism forecasts – as well as prospects for Space Tourism. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There has been plenty of activity between Russian exporters and investors and the Global South this week, as it becomes apparent that Russia is developing as a significant export competitor to the European Union in particular. Subtle state encouragement is also helping, such as tax incentives and the efforts of Russian bodies such as Rosselkhoznadzor, the food sanitation standards agency. A simple scroll down the weeks articles below will showcase the wide range of Russia’s efforts in expanding its export portfolio. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Amongst all the Ukraine and Trump political talk this week, it has been a significant few days in Russia-Islamic nations relations, with a major international conference involving Islamic heads of State from Africa and Asia attending in Kazan. Significant, billion-dollar deals were quietly signed in an event ignored by the West and overshadowed by Trump’s own Middle East visit. We also discuss a key issue in Russia-US relations: Russia is not a competitor (unlike Europe) to American interests and can offer US investors significant supply chain access both to Europe (currently frozen, but capable of revival) and Asia (booming). This issue – US access and involvement in Russia’s supply chains - will be a major part of any understanding with the Trump administration. Meanwhile – Sergey Lavrov’s speech to the Diplomatic Club is also well worth a read – along with intriguing, wealth-generating proposals for dealing with the billions of dollars of Western funds that Russia has frozen. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This past week has been a flurry of activity centered around the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. The news from meetings held in Moscow with a significant number of global leaders underscored the multipolar nature of Russia and BRICS as a whole. Aside from that, it may very well be that some western businesses are endeavouring to return to Russia, however that will be on different terms than before 2022. EU has increased sanction yet again, while some sanctions may be eased by the US at the same time. A number of trade and economic agreements were discussed or signed by leaders of African, ASEAN, Central Asian, MENA and Latam with their Russian counterparts, ranging from trade in national currencies to energy and tourism. With best wishes Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Moscow has been busy this week in corresponding with India and Pakistan, in addition to Israel, Iran and the UAE in trying to find solutions to serious regional issues. There is no doubt that Russia is an increasingly respected voice at the UN Security Council where a lot of these conflicts are discussed. In terms of trade and investment, it has been a busy week involving China related infrastructure and supply chains as well as Chinese investment into the Russian Far East. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has also provided an interesting historical overview of Russia’s diplomatic relations with Cuba – we have provided numerous fascinating cultural links to the ties between the two countries. With best wishes for the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War Two! Russia’s Pivot To Asia

Russia’s own domestic and international version of the Belt & Road Initiative has taken a lot of preparatory steps this week, with significant updates concerning the International North-South Transport Corridor, the proposed Trans-Afghan Railway and Russia-China cross-border river connectivity all catching the eye as global supply chains shift. Elsewhere, diplomatic efforts continue in Africa and Asia, while the BRICS Foreign Ministers meetings in Rio de Janeiro welcome the new partner states. New global geo-connectivity patterns are rapidly emerging. With best wishes! Russia’s Pivot To Asia

We’re back after the Easter break! And huge amounts have been going on – not least early signs of Western companies returning to Russia, and impressive diplomatic interactions on all continents, with specific attention in the Middle East, Africa and the global Islamic community. Taking a leaf from Trump, Russia has also begun imposing tariffs on some products from ‘unfriendly countries’. There are important infrastructure updates in the Russian Arctic, Africa, Asia and China logistics, which will shape the geography of future trade flows. Meanwhile, the Russian economy is booming with the ruble gaining significantly against the dollar since January. Its now relatively easy to read between the lines in this detailed round up to see where Russia’s trade and geostrategic future is headed. With best wishes! Russia’s Pivot To Asia