The globalization of NATO will only largely occur at the level of high political rhetoric
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte concluded a two-day official visit to Japan—his first visit to the country since becoming the chief of the transatlantic military alliance in October. Among NATO's “Indo-Pacific partners,” Japan stands out as the biggest economy, the most generous defense spender and a country with an exceptional track record of close relationships with the transatlantic alliance...
The U.S. adoption of an early 20th-century approach to international economics and geoeconomics—characterized by the implementation of protectionist measures rather than free trade—stands as the most prominent symbolic sign of the nation’s retreat from global economic leadership
There is a quote, often attributed to Lenin [
1
], describing geopolitical tensions of the international system, sentiments that remain true today: “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades...
... JUNGE FREIHEIT. (2025). Mit diesen Zöllen überzieht Trump die ganze Welt. Available at:
https://jungefreiheit.de/politik/ausland/2025/mit-diesen-zoellen-ueberzieht-trump-die-ganze-welt/
2
. European Parliament (2025). Handel zwischen der EU und den USA: mögliche Auswirkungen neuer Zölle auf Europa. URL:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topics/de/article/20250210STO26801/handel-zwischen-der-eu-und-den-usa-mogliche-auswirkungen-neuer-zolle-auf-europa
3
. European Commission (2024). Wichtigste Partner ...
What kind of order is it, if it is so easy to disrupt?
The Trump administration's recent announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" has made almost all countries victims of its protectionism. As Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said, the sweeping new tariffs plunged the global trade system into a highly challenging situation. Although the tariffs have had a negative influence on Russia, it has not been directly affected by them. The reason for this is that numerous...
Washington is ready to talk; Russia should write the script
The diplomatic process surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict has taken a cautious step forward. The recent agreements reached in Riyadh may not yet constitute a breakthrough, but they represent the most significant diplomatic achievement since the grain deal of summer 2022.
Skeptics will note that the latest understandings lack firm guarantees. Indeed, Russia, the US, and Ukraine continue to differ in both the language and substance...
... RAS. Svetlana Gavrilova, RIAC Director of Programs, moderated the session.
During the first session, the presentation of the RIAC report, “Extra-Regional actors in the Middle East”, was held. The experts discussed regional strategies of Russia, USA, EU, China and India. Speakers in this session were the report authors: Alexander Aksenenok, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, RIAC Vice-President; Alexander Lomanov, Acting Deputy Director for Scientific Work ...
In many ways, Brussels and Beijing face similar challenges coming from Washington
Lately the not-so-fresh idea of a “European strategic autonomy” has got back in circulation in many EU capitals. This should come as no surprise, given the condescending and even arrogant attitude displayed by the Donald Trump administration toward US' European allies. Politicians and state officials across the European continent can no longer take the transatlantic commonality of values or even the enduring US leadership...
The achieved results and existing limitations create an incentive for Washington and Moscow to discuss a potential peace. Nevertheless, both sides retain the material resources necessary to sustain the confrontation
The negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump marked a step toward resolving the Ukrainian conflict. However, the outcomes remain uncertain. A reversal could occur at any moment, given the multitude of unresolved, accumulated issues. The flawed legacy of the European security...
The diplomatic process is moving forward without unnecessary haste or abrupt shifts, clearly showing positive momentum
The conversation between Putin and Trump, along with official summaries of their call, reflects a continuing trend toward cautious optimism. Such a tone seemed unthinkable just a few months ago, and even now it’s hard to fully believe. Yet here we are.
Clearly, the key topic remains resolving the Ukraine crisis. The outlines of a potential solution are becoming more apparent, likely...
А meaningful step forward
As expected, the hype surrounding the Putin-Trump call proved exaggerated. Attempts to portray it as decisive and historic fell flat. Still, it remains a meaningful step forward, allowing several preliminary observations.
First, developments align closely with Russia’s preferred approach. Moscow resisted immediate ceasefire calls, emphasizing the necessity for carefully structured long-term agreements. This effectively deflected Washington’s urgency, especially after the...
