The emergence of new political formats is usually accompanied by mistrust of the critically minded expert community. However, the emergence of the Russia-Azerbaijan–Iran bloc spanning the western coast of the Caspian Sea could become a powerful impetus for the interpenetration of the three countries’ economies and for institutionalizing political dialog. Are the summit participants themselves interested in ...
... possible destabilization of Afghanistan would seem to dictate America’s continued presence and growing activity in the region. The US influence, then, cuts both ways: combatting extremism coexists with a sceptical attitude towards projects in which Russia and China play an active role.
REUTERS/RIA Novosti
Armenian Experts’ Debate:
“Membership in the EEU in Exchange for
Security”
Iran
Growing influence in the region may fall to Iran. While sanctions caused considerable damages to Iran’s economy, they also encouraged the country to concentrate on industrialization and technological modernization, since it could no longer ...
... the RAS Institute for Oriental Studies, to discuss how Moscow can combine cooperation with Iran with its Eurasian integration efforts.
Why was it Tehran and not Moscow that launched the Iran-EEU FTA initiative?
I can see two reasons. First of all, for Russia and other EEU states, Iran is significantly underestimated as a partner. Tehran is definitely on the backburner in Moscow's foreign and trade policies. In most cases, Russia views Iran in on ad hoc basis, using it as a tool in disputes with the United States and Europe. The ...