Latest updates, insights, and analysis.
With the FIFA World Cup Soccer Finals due to start in just 100 days, and the world in conflict and turmoil, we look at each of the tournaments participating countries, their relations with the United States, and examine just how likely calls for cancellation, boycotting or even completing the event as planned actually are.
Sri Lanka has stated it is interested in joining the BRICS group as views it ‘as a platform to spur its economic growth.’
Neighbouring India is the 2026 BRICS chair and will host annual BRICS summit in late summer. It is possible Sri Lanka could be invited to become a partner nation.
Russia’s President Putin has met with the Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera in Moscow. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation, including security, economic ties, and humanitarian issues, also signing an agreement to establish an Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation.
Russian President Putin has assured the Hungarian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister that Russia will do everything in its power to maintain gas supplies to the country. However, he has also said he may shortly cease gas supplies to Europe as Russia is looking for new markets to develop and the European supply situation is a dead-end for Russia. That puts the EU in a serious predicament as supplies from the Middle East are also drying up. We look at how Europe got into this position, and has diminished its standing with Moscow without making adequate contingency plans.
Russian Railways holds the concession for the Armenian South Caucasus Railway, however due to geopolitical differences between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkiye, large parts of the track have fallen into disrepair. Armenia wants Russian railways to pay for its restoration and then exit the project as Russian Railways are sanctioned and Yerevan says this is damaging its national transit trade potential as it geopolitical relations have now improved.
Kazakhstan is repairing and upgrading the highway facilities leading to its border with Turkmenistan at Temir-Baba near the Caspian Sea coastline. This route is a key part of the Russia-Turkmenistan overland highway with demand increasing as the INSTC routes develop.
Russia’s Port Favor, near St.Petersburg, is aiming to double fertilizer exports as it gears up with expanded facilities, including recent increases of Ammonia exports. It remains a key supplier to come European markets.
Russia’s President and Foreign Minister have conducted twelve high Ministerial level discussions over the few days with regional Middle Eastern players, and another four with other global actors. In constrast, the United States and European Union have held none. We discuss what was said, the emerging global south position, and international diplomatic efforts at the United Nations.
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.
Landlocked Belarus, rubbing up against political and security barriers to the West and South, is looking North and East as it wishes to continue to develop its own Pivot to Asia. This includes a specific Belorussian container terminal dedicated to Belarus imports and exports at Murmansk port in the Russian Arctic.
Russia and Azerbaijan have been discussing increasing their bilateral trade, and specifically within the International North-South Transport Corridor. Mutual trade has been increasing yet both sides wish to accelerate this.
Russia’s EkoNiva has been expanding its exports and selling non-fat dried milk products to Algeria for the first time. Russian exporters have been increasingly active in reaching out to new markets, and especially in the MENA region.
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