Both powers are fostering a reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote greater stability in the region. Since Azerbaijani forces crossed into Armenia’s Syunik and Geghrkunik provinces in May 2021, border tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have continued to flare. After a gradual ebb in hostilities from mid-January, Armenia repeatedly …
Read More »Memo to General Secretary Xi Jinping
This imaginary memo reviews the Russia–Ukraine war at its current stage through the eyes of an advisor to the General Secretary. From: OFFICE OF THE CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR MILITARY-CIVIL FUSION DEVELOPMENT, BEIJING Subject: THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION’S SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE Chairman and General Secretary, The war in Ukraine is …
Read More »How the West Was One
Rumours of the demise of the Bretton Woods system are exaggerated and it will continue to underpin the Western-led order. A world without the US dollar is a near impossible thought. But spurred on by the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the extension of sanctions, many now see a fast-growing challenge to …
Read More »Russian Expert Lukyanov: Russia’s Foreign Policy Gains Since The Collapse Of The Soviet Union Have Been Largely Erased As A Consequence Of Russia’s Sovereign Decisions
Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Ministry of International Situation, and one of Russia’s most incisive foreign policy analysts wrote a trenchant column for Kommersant titled the Ministry of the International Situation. In the column he …
Read More »Jill Biden brings thanks, ketchup to US troops in Romania
Delivering good cheer — and gallons of ketchup — Jill Biden on Friday thanked U.S. troops deployed to Romania for serving as a check against Russian aggression as she opened a two-country European trip to learn about the refugee crisis caused by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. first lady …
Read More »US seeks to downplay role in sinking of Russian warship
The Biden administration sought Friday to downplay the role of American intelligence in the high-profile sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, distancing itself from any direct role in one of the greatest embarrassments for Russia since it attacked Ukraine. A day after an American official confirmed that the U.S. …
Read More »Dozens more civilians rescued from Ukrainian steel plant
Dozens more civilians were rescued Friday from the tunnels under the besieged steel mill where Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol have been making their last stand to prevent Moscow’s complete takeover of the strategically important port city. Russian and Ukrainian officials said 50 people were evacuated from the Azovstal plant and …
Read More »Iran is learning from Russia’s use of missiles in Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned into the largest testing ground for ballistic and cruise missiles in modern warfare. According to the latest figures from a senior U.S. official as of April 29, 2022, Russia had launched more than 1,950 missiles — far more than the 955 cruise missile strikes …
Read More »Iran, Turkey, and the future of the South Caucasus
Since late September 2021, when Iran-Azerbaijan relations hit a low point, Tehran and Baku have engaged in a process of de-escalation. Much of the focus is on expanding economic cooperation and advancing plans to establish pan-regional transportation links, such as the North-South railroad corridor connecting India to Russia via Iran …
Read More »Erdogan to Return One Million Syrian Refugees to Northern Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled a new project in several parts of northern Syria, which will allow the return of one million Syrian refugees to those areas. In a video message to Syrians on Tuesday, Erdogan said that the project covers 13 areas in northern Syria, including Azaz, …
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