... and will not join any anti-Russian alliances, including military ones. Such confidence is rare in relations between major powers, and it has allowed the partnership to withstand difficult moments in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
Economy
Julia Melnikova, Natalia Viakhireva, Gleb Gryzlov:
The Issue of Connectivity in India-Russia Relations — From Eurasia to the Arctic
Economic relations between Russia and India are breaking records: the current fiscal year’s trade turnover ...
On September 18, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) co-hosted a roundtable titled "Russia-Mexico Relations: A View from Moscow and Mexico City"
On September 18, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) co-hosted a roundtable titled "Russia-Mexico Relations: A View from Moscow and Mexico City".
The event was opened with welcoming remarks...
Report No. 99 / 2025
Report No. 99 / 2025
The following report focuses on the Middle Eastern policies of extra-regional actors and their transformation in changing conditions. It concentrates on studying the strategies pursued by Russia, the U.S., the EU, China and India in the Middle East. The report also examines how Middle Eastern countries perceive extra-regional actors as they aspire to build pragmatic and balanced relationships with external partners.
Extra-Regional Actors in the Middle East...
... Israel or the U.S.),
Retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Qatar,
Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,
More active operations by Shiite militias in the region.
Inside Iran, this could trigger another major wave of protests, especially if the economy takes another hit from stricter sanctions. There is also a risk that some radical opposition groups could try to take advantage of the unrest to start an uprising with high casualties—something Iran’s counterintelligence has already warned ...
... and left a deep imprint on the national mentality. This heritage will undoubtedly stay with Russians in future, affecting their perceptions of themselves, the overall worldviews as well as many specific economic, social, military and other decisions.
Economy
Andrey Kortunov:
Is Global Icebreaker Race Imminent?
Today, the Arctic region houses less than 1.3% of Russia’s population, but it accounts for some 12–15% of the national GDP and for 25% of all the exports. One fifth of all Russia’s oil ...
... restructuring of the economy, markets, and import sources has occurred at a historically remarkable pace.
In addition to the economy, the political system has also demonstrated remarkable resilience. Hopes among Russia’s adversaries for a swift “regime ... ... conditions was inevitable, the system has avoided sliding into a totalitarian model with excessive and demotivating control. Society, too, has shown resilience to extreme conditions. Initial confusion quickly gave way to adaptation. The high human cost ...
... its industrial sector are locked into Western production and supply chains, further entrenching the peripheral nature of its economy. Modernization and even basic maintenance of the country’s infrastructure are impossible without Western support. Even ... ... country’s independence, may resurface with renewed intensity.
Andrey Kortunov:
A Failed Journey to the West
The state of Ukrainian society adds another layer of complexity. Fatigue from prolonged military action, frustration with losses, and disillusionment ...
Despite the efforts of Middle Eastern countries to enhance their influence in regional and international affairs, they continue to deal with issues that require external support
Becoming more evident in recent years, the latest events taking place in the Middle East may reinforce an awareness of the changing role of Middle Eastern states in international relations. Episodes such as U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about the Gaza Strip and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria have...
... gradually fading from the Afghanistan-related agenda. The problem of human rights in Afghanistan—strongly emphasized by Western nations, especially regarding women’s rights and education—should be recognized as an internal matter, belonging to Afghan society and its government. Afghanistan was one of the first Muslim states to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but this only formally obliges the country’s leadership to adhere to its principles. In addition, the crisis of the UN has ...
... can secure sufficient funding. Furthermore, the countries agreed to pool their resources to build large-scale transport and communications infrastructure, facilitate trade and the free movement of goods and people, and invest in various sectors of the economy. One example that demonstrates the feasibility of these plans is Niger’s
agreement
to sell 150 million liters of diesel to Mali at almost half the going rate, supporting a nation plagued by enduring electricity shortages.
The three leaders ...
