Russia-CIS

For all the controversy that trails him, Donald Trump has a record of inserting himself into geopolitical standoffs and sometimes lowering the temperature. During his first term, he broke decades of taboo by meeting Kim Jong Un in Singapore in 2018 and again at the DMZ in 2019, …

Lithuania may remove Russian as a second foreign language in schools by 2026, citing changing student preferences and rising geopolitical concerns, a minister said. Vice Education, Science and Sport Minister Jonas Petkevicius said Wednesday that consultations will begin with the Seimas Education and Science Committee, as well as …

Abdul Haq In a historic decision that reflected worries about a more unstable world, leaders of NATO decided to increase defense spending commitments to 5% of GDP by 2035 at the June 2025 summit. In a time of ‘global competition,’ NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized that ‘Europe and …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh As tensions escalate across the Caspian region and the specter of nuclear confrontation looms ominously, Kazakhstan’s unwavering dedication to nonproliferation and its astute foreign policy position it as a potential arbiter in the Iranian crisis. By harnessing its diplomatic acumen and strategic location, Kazakhstan could …

Gerald Walker In an era marked by escalating geopolitical tensions, the world faces three major flashpoints that threaten global stability: the Israel-Iran conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and in a slightly smaller way, the China-Taiwan standoff. Each of these conflicts is rooted in complex historical, ideological, and strategic disputes, …

Russia’s Balancing Act Amid the Iran-Israel Conflict As the Middle East teeters on the brink of regional war, a familiar global player emerges with a strategy honed over decades: Russia. In the fog of missiles, retaliations, and diplomatic bluster between Iran and Israel, Moscow’s posture remains deliberately ambiguous, …

Jenny Adams Yet another exciting session of the ‘Understanding AI Program’ presented by the Silkroad 4.0 Platform, the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) and their consortium of partners (such as Modern Diplomacy, ICCD, D-8, IAF, THC, and the like), the focus turned to how …

China is working hard to make the Renminbi (RMB) widely used worldwide and lessen the U.S. dollar’s role in global trade. These efforts are having a significant effect on the global financial landscape. China’s growth in the renminbi, primarily through bilateral agreements between Indonesia and China to use …

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s journey toward European Union integration and Western economic alignment remained fragmented and incomplete. Although the post-2014 Maidan Revolution prompted a push for reform, efforts to harmonize with EU standards delivered only modest progress. Ukraine’s investment climate remained marred by structural inefficiencies …