On the intertwined interests of regional and external powers in South Caucasus
Caucasus: turbulence in the shadow of Ukraine
These days, the Caucasus has been pushed to the margins of the international agenda and the media narrative by developments in and around Ukraine. However, the importance of geopolitical transformations in this part of Eurasia should by no means be underestimated.
Sergey Markedonov:
Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict: Last Chapter or More to Come?
To begin with, it was here...
... as a new instrument of geopolitical competition, creating not only networks of railroads, digital and energy infrastructure, but also lasting recipient dependencies of respective investments from donors. The following working paper is looking at the European Union as a connectivity provider, assessing the potential of its Global Gateway Initiative in becoming a viable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Connectivity Competition: The EU’s Global Gateway Initiative
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... remaining 14 states of the format, there are several candidates for exit: first of all, the Czech Republic, which is not involved in BRI projects and openly criticizes China's foreign policy, and Romania, which has suspended its projects and the participation ... ... turn in the foreign economic policy of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the growing crisis in the European Union. Moscow, RAS Institute of Economics, 2017. 294 p. p.
2
. For details on legislative changes, see the European Union ...
... viewed as a potential competitor for regional integration structures (ASEAN, EAEU, RCEP) or trans-border economic projects (BRI) or organizations (the SCO, APEC, ASEM). On the contrary, all of those structures, projects and organizations are seen as ... ... not be opposed to Eurasia – rather, it should become an integral part of it. Therefore, the Partnership remains open for the European Union, which could join the activities of the Partnership in the forms and to the extent that it deems appropriate.
Third,...
... consistency of Italian foreign policy which was formed in the post-war years,the purpose of which is to fulfill the role of a “bridge” between the North and the South, the West and the East. Perhaps, the historical peak of this strategy occurred when ... ... - President of the European Parliament, Mario Draghi - Chairman of the ECB, Federica Mogherini - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), now only one Italian - a representative of the opposition Democratic ...
Prospects and bottlenecks for Greater Eurasian Partnership
Given the ongoing tensions between Russia and the European Union, only a few policy-makers and experts will give serious thought to the prospect of cooperation on connectivity between the EU, China, and Russia in Central Asia. However, as China further embarks on implementing its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and remains firmly set on pursuing the ambitious goal of connecting China overland with Europe, Russia and the EU — as indispensable stakeholders for this continental connection to successfully materialize — have been developing policy responses ...
... impact of the France–China dialogue on the interests of other international actors.
China: Pros and Cons
Andrey Kortunov:
The European Union and the East Wind
When visiting China in January 2018, Macron
stated
, rather pompously, that France and China ... ... some very reputable international experts. President of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) Thierry de Montbrial is
says
that China is “playing the intra-European controversies,” using a “quasi-imperial” strategy in its efforts ...
... Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Despite the fact that 13 other EU countries have signed similar memorandums with China, the significance of Italy’s decision cannot be overstated, as it is the first G7 country and the first founding member of the European Union to officially confirm its readiness to participate in Silk Road projects.
Ever since Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development Michele Geraci announced the imminent signing of the document on March 5, 2019,...
... problems than on international issues. This propensity for political introspection (some may even call it political autism syndrome) is present, to some extent, in the U.S., Russia, China, and India. However, it is particularly characteristic of the European Union, which currently has to simultaneously deal with Brexit, prepare for the upcoming European Parliament elections, restore financial discipline in the eurozone, and reconcile differing views on migration issues along with many other urgent ...
... activist”
George Soros
celebrated the refugee invasion of Europe and the Arab Spring earlier. If the yellow vest contagion spreads to the Western half of Europe, its economies will flounder. Cui bono? Russia that can reap benefits from the two-way BRI or Arctic trade routes or moribund United States that can no longer rule roost in an increasingly multipolar world?
Trump’s
diplomatic downgrade
of the European Union and his opposition to the
Nord Stream 2
gas pipeline matches this trade-disruption hypothesis, as do pressures applied on India and China to drop energy and trade ties with Iran. Washington’s trade war with Beijing and recent charges ...
