Latest Articles about Foreign Policy
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/zashi_drujbi_500.jpg)
How Does Russia Fit into Egypt’s Strategic Plan?
As Russian-Egyptian military and economic cooperation increases, many comparisons have been made with Egypt’s early post-independence era (1956–1971), when Cairo grew close to Moscow. Egypt’s current strategic position, however, bears closer similarities to the foreign policy of the first decades of rule by the founder... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/pozdravil.jpg)
Kazakhstan Moves to Expand, Strengthen National Security Council
Kazakhstan’s parliament introduced new legislation, on January 24, 2018, pertaining to the National Security Council (KNSC) (Abctv.kz, January 24). The legislation notably follows last year’s adoption of a new military strategy, which focuses on ways to strengthen national security and domestic stability (see EDM, October... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/COSCO-640x193.jpg)
Shipping Finance: China’s New Tool in Becoming a Global Maritime Power
China began 2018 by making important strategic moves in the shipping industry. On January 10, COSCO Shipping Development, COSCO Shipping’s leasing finance arm announced a plan to establish a shipping fund with state-controlled China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. to finance ship assets (Splash24/7, January 10). COSCO Shipping,... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NACPR-640x426.jpg)
The United Front Work Department in Action Abroad: A Profile of The Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China
Throughout 2017, Australia and New Zealand were roiled by controversies surrounding alleged attempts by pro-Beijing lobbying groups to influence government policies. In Australia, one of the foremost figures at the center of these controversies has been Huang Xiangmo. Huang, who first became wealthy as a... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Russian-atheletes-PyeonChang-Opening-Ceremony-EDM-February-12-2018-640x416.jpg)
Russia Experiences Olympic Blues, and Patriotic Bravado Brings No Solace
About 80 Russian athletes marched in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, last Friday (February 9), under the Olympic flag carried by a Korean volunteer. Only 168 individuals were invited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to partake... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Georgian-Military-Highway-near-border-with-Russia-EDM-February-8-2018-640x427.jpg)
Russia and Georgia Disagree Over North-South ‘Trade Corridors’
Zurab Abashidze, the Georgian prime minister’s special representative to Russia, held a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin in Prague, on January 31, within the framework of the bilateral informal dialogue launched in late 2012 (Civil Georgia, February 1). During such meetings, the... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Major-Roman-Filipov-EDM-February-8-2018-640x334.jpg)
Russia Accuses US of Supplying Missile That Brought Down Hero Su-25 Pilot Over Syria
Two Russian Su-25SM attack jets were overflying the rebel-controlled Idlib province in northwestern Syria, on February 3, when one of the planes was hit by an infrared-signature- homing surface-to-air missile fired from a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). Russian commanders insist the jets were on a... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Filip-and-Stoltenberg-640-640x480.jpg)
Moldova’s Cooperation With NATO—Strategic Choice or Political Tactic?
Between January 29 and February 2, a group of experts from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) visited Moldova to assist with the drafting and implementation of the country’s key strategic documents, including the national defense and military strategies as well as related action plans.... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/j1zurWkKQsCEr8JBNrSb0gI7pI3yQAEU-640x395.jpeg)
Moscow Continues to Pay Close Attention to Latin America
Russia’s actions in Latin America—including a recent series of economic agreements signed with Argentina (Izvestia, January 18)—are often overlooked given that Europe, Asia, the Middle East and, of course, the United States are widely understood to be much higher foreign policy priorities for Moscow. But... MORE
![](/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/5a3e6d6cfc7e93002e8b4567-640x360.jpg)
Russia Embarks on Military Buildup in the Far East
The Russian government stated, on February 1, that units of the Aerospace Forces (Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye Sily—VKS) are to be located on Iturup Island (southern end of the Kurile Islands chain, disputed with Japan). This deployment should be seen as a first step in a strategy aimed... MORE