Latest Articles about Foreign Policy

Georgia Leaves Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Executive Summary: On January 29, the Republic of Georgia ceased participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after the latter demanded new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. Tbilisi’s exit from PACE threatens its eligibility for EU candidacy. The... MORE

Lukashenka Touts More Anti-Poland Rhetoric Following Presidential Election
Executive Summary: During his re-election as Belarus’s President, Alyaksandr Lukashenka warned Poland that any attempt to annex western Ukraine would precipitate a conflict with Belarus and Russia. Lukashenka’s warnings are part of a broader obsession with Poland’s regional and European influence and support for the... MORE

Russia Expands Nuclear Energy Influence in Southeast Asia
Executive Summary: Russia is increasingly involved in Southeast Asia’s nuclear energy market, most recently vis-a-vis the signing of a new memorandum on the development of nuclear energy between Rosatom and Vietnam Electricity. Once established, nuclear energy cooperation creates long-term commitments associated with power plant maintenance,... MORE

European Union Continues Dependency on Russian LNG
Executive Summary: Russian LNG exports and production increased significantly in 2024. The export of hydrocarbons, including LNG, remains one key means by which Russia finances its war against Ukraine. Other large LNG producers, such as the United States and Qatar, prefer to sell their energy... MORE

Belarus’s ‘Calmest Elections’ Hold Potential to Pave the Way for Rapprochement
Executive Summary: Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was named the winner of Belarus’s seventh presidential election for his seventh consecutive term. This election starkly contrasted with the last election, as it was relatively calm without mass protests. The Western response to the election was overwhelmingly negative,... MORE

Armenia Moves Toward Europe While Still Dependent on Russia
Executive Summary: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signaled plans to pursue EU membership, which Moscow views as an attempt by Brussels and Washington D.C. to fully replace it. Armenia’s reliance on Russia for trade complicates the situation. The economic challenges posed by such a... MORE

Turkmenistan Expanding Military to Support Its Increased International Activity
Executive Summary: Turkmenistan is rapidly expanding and modernizing its military to allow Ashgabat to defend itself against domestic challenges, threats from Afghanistan, and increasing competition on the Caspian, as well as to support its expanded political and economic activity internationally. While it still lags militarily... MORE

Russian Business Scheme to Circumvent Tariffs and Fund War
Executive Summary: Moscow introduced a new accounting scheme enabling European buyers to pay for gas in rubles, circumventing U.S. sanctions and using intermediaries and currency exchanges to bypass restrictions. Russia has expanded its shadow fleet and increased its oil tanker capacity by 70 percent, helping... MORE

Conversations on Ending the War in Ukraine Grow Louder and Emptier
Executive Summary: The beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration highlights contrasting views of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The West views it as a non-sensical distortion that should be stopped, and Russian President Vladimir Putin views it as a confrontation with the West. The state... MORE

Russia’s Nuclear Sector Capitalizes on Global Nuclear Revival
Executive Summary: Russia remains at the forefront of global nuclear innovation, leveraging state-owned enterprise Rosatom to expand partnerships, build reactors, and strengthen relationships with non-Western nations. This gives Moscow more avenues to bolster its economy amid Western sanctions. Rosatom is currently conducting $200 billion in... MORE