News Archives

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

With the Russian Prime Minister visiting China this week, there has been a great deal of infrastructure investment development coming from the Russian Far East, including a new Stock Exchange, Logistics Services, Industrial Parks, upgrades to the Russia-Mongolia railway and significant efforts being made to exploit Russia’s vast rare earth reserves. North-East Asia is poised to later global trade and investment dynamics. We also examine the developing cities and regions involving in taking advantage of the Middle Corridor routes to Asia, and how the Volga River’s connectivity is shifting millions of people to Asian supply chains. We also comment on Europe’s literal drift away from these opportunities, leaving it somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. We discuss the implications of these geopolitical, if not geophysical moves. Elsewhere, foreign investment in Russia is increasing, with both Chinese and Indian plays involved, while Russia’s trade with ASEAN has increased 32% on the year. Finally, sanctions resistance kicks in as Asian governments prioritise their own economies over Ukraine. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The erratic nature of US-Russia relations was revealed this week with the postponement of the mooted Budapest summit and the imposition of US sanctions against Russian energy majors and the threats of secondary sanctions against China and India. We take a deep look into the economics to examine the implications. Elsewhere, our intelligence uncovers massive infrastructure development projects in as Russia’s economy diversifies, significant road development plans for Siberia, rail plans for the INSTC, improving supply chains to ASEAN and the likelihood of more Chinese Belt & Road Initiative infrastructure investment into Russia as the two countries update their investment treaty. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The primary news this week are the huge developments in Russia-China related infrastructure connectivity, with massive new road and port projects underway that span Eurasia both overland and via the Arctic. China has also redomiciled some of its Russian investment grade assets away from Europe to Hong Kong in signs of Beijing both recognising and acting upon growing political risk in the EU. We provide a deep dive look at Central Asia’s substantial e-commerce development and examine Russia’s crypto market - now larger than any in Europe. We highlight specific trade and investment intelligence updates from Africa, the Middle East, India, and ASEAN, together, and provide an overview of Russia’s trade, investment and connectivity with Hungary – with the planned Trump-Putin summit now subject to intense media coverage stories about whether it will take place or not. If it does, we look at what Hungary stands to gain. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This week has seen special focus being paid to Central Asia, with several high-level meetings taking place that impact the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union and the Caspian Littoral States, with significant regional connectivity and trade development plans being made. Overall Russia-Central Asian trade is growing at 5x Russia’s GDP current growth with the region becoming a significant economic driver. We also comment on the Netherlands seizure of China’s Nexperia, and trade developments elsewhere impacting India, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Finally, we offer insights into the Russian explorer, Nicholas Roerich’s 1935 Peace Pact and its relevance to Russia and Europe today. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There were two important presentations by Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, a speech at the Valdai Club and a subsequent Q&A session. These revealed Russia’s geopolitical thought processes as regards Moscow’s relations with Europe, the United States and future global development. In the main these were conciliatory; yet were inevitably perceived in the EU as threatening – reflecting differing opinions as regards international development. The EU Commissioner, Ursula Von der Leyen described Putin’s comments as ‘essential reading’. In other development news, Russia has apparently moved ahead of the United States and Europe in developing AI systems to improve strategic economic development planning. We also provide an updated sovereign credit rating analysis between the West and Asia. In infrastructure, there have been significant developments in Eurasia, Africa and with China, with new navigation, road, bridge and energy projects being announced, along with domestic infrastructure investment in the Russian Arctic. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This past week has been an excellent indicator of the extent of contemporary Russian diplomatic outreach, as Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, used part of his time at the United Nations 80th General assembly to meet with his counterparts from numerous other nations in New York. Africa, Asia and Latin America dominated his schedule – we feature the background intelligence to each of the 23 meetings held. Back in Moscow, President Putin also held several bilateral meetings – and announced game-changing nuclear power development involving closed-cycle reactors. While the West seems content to harass and provoke via tariffs and sanction in its current approach – Russia seems intent to promote dialogue and cooperation in its international affairs. It is a telling difference in global diplomacy. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The most significant news this week – ignored in the West – is the Russia and Iranian agreement to build eight Nuclear Power Plants in Iran, and Europe’s largest share offering in over 12 months being twice over-subscribed – by Russia’s VTB bank in Moscow. Russia has announced it has begun construction work on what will be the fastest and longest rail network in Europe. Iran is also to import quantities of Russian LNG that used to be sent to the EU with fundamental impacts on their future economic growth. We look at how EU sanctions are failing because they are built on old fintech that Russia has now surpassed; and examine the GDP/debt ratios of Western and Eastern European Union members as they are fundamentally different. We discuss the surprising reasons why. Pakistani agricultural commodities traders are now active on the St. Petersburg exchange, while we highlight Indian meat exports to Russia, Russian sunflower producers investing in Egypt, Russian software developers in Brazil’s financial services sector, a proposed Russia/Bahrain Double Tax Treaty, Russia/Philippines trade potential, the implications of Uzbekistan joining the Eurasian Development Bank and the first Chinese cargo ship to load in Crimea for a decade. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

There have been multiple infrastructure and economic issues this week, including significant potential rail projects in Siberia, unmanned, digital transport corridors from China to Russia, a Russian investment zone in Egypt, and nuclear power projects in Serbia and Iraq. In the economics and finance, Putin has outlined instructions for Russia’s GDP to be higher than the global average, outlining how this can be achieved, while the SCO plans to replace SWIFT, and other important regional trade developments and growth trends have occurred in North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and India. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

This week has seen significant geopolitical activity take place, including an emergency BRICS summit which outlines concern about US tariffs, and reform at the United Nations. The UN General Assembly is at the month end, our BRICS article is a useful background precursor as to what might occur. Russia and China have made significant progress in the Far East, which we also highlight in Putin’s comprehensive speech about the region, and the Power of Siberia 2 agreement. China has also agreed to import more Russian gas from Kazakhstan. Otherwise, tariff sabre rattling continues, with talk of 100% import tariffs by the EU and US on Chinese and Indian goods. We also give our opinion on why Trumps tariffs will not succeed when it comes to larger consumer markets. We additionally raise concerns about European debt levels, as what is fast becoming a new global financial crisis appears to spread. Better news comes from Russia-China trade forecast and interesting developments within ASEAN. With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The main focus this past week has been the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation annual Heads of State summit, for which we have produced a wealth of introductory and analytical material for our readers. This turned out to be a pivotal event that is likely to dramatically influence global affairs, and we recommend taking time to go through the articles to fully understand the implications. That lead to numerous bilateral side meetings, including with China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Turkmenistan and Mongolia, with the latter meeting especially of note as the much-anticipated Power of 2 pipeline to China has finally been agreed between the three parties. That will increase Russia’s exports of gas to China by an additional 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year from Russia with transit through Mongolia. That is roughly equivalent to the volumes Russia currently exports to the European Union, its largest gas customer (despite sanctions). There are also important developments as concern the United Nations, as new impetus at reform is taking place, most directly with China’s introduction of an alternative ‘Global Governance Initiative’ that will create substantial debate within the UN itself as well as among the Global South. This week has seen dramatic changes take place. ​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation holds its annual Heads of State meetings in China from Sunday, we provide a thorough demographic analysis of the organisation, and what to expect. We also have updates on the structural changes in Russia-China trade, and news of Rosatom’s nuclear power component procurement plans in China, the integrating of Russia’s digital transport systems with China, changing Chinese investment trends into Russia and about China increasing its purchases of Russia oil. Elsewhere we look at important energy developments in Afghanistan and Mongolia, examine Russia’s own version of the BRI in the Caucasus, and discuss why Iran is set to outperform the entire EU in its coming trade and LNG imports from Russia. Geopolitics has shifted supply chains east. We also comment on both India and Venezuela moving closer to the BRICS in the fallout from US President Trump’s planned import tariffs. ​ With best regards; Russia’s Pivot To Asia