Russia and South Africa: Strategic Friendship or Geopolitical Gamble?
The Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), will hold the 3rd Russian-African conference titled “Realpolitik in...
From Periphery to Frontline: Ethnic Minority Rights in Wartime Russia
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped not only international borders but also deepened domestic patterns of repression. Under the guise of patriotic unity, the...
China-Central Asia Summit: A New Chapter of Shared Future and Strategic Convergence
The recent China-Central Asia Summit, attended by President Xi Jinping and the heads of state from the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,...
China’s approach to Central Asia beyond geopolitics
During the unprecedented war between Israel and Iran over the past weeks (June 13-24), the United States has obviously supported Israel against Iran in...
Regional Connectivity: Tajikistan’s Race to Finish CASA-1000 by 2026
The CASA-1000 project (Central Asia–South Asia power transmission line) is a landmark energy initiative aiming to bridge two regions. It was launched in the...
Fighting Trafficking in Central Asia: GAATW’s Battle to Protect Migrant Women
When the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was launched, the promise of regional integration sounded promising with more job opportunities, economic growth, and cross-border labor...
The Failure of Russia’s “Shadow War” Strategy: The Collapse of the Assad Regime in Syria
In December 2024, history recorded the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria when Russian support should have been at its peak. Over...
The Illusion of Resilience: How the War is Hollowing out Putin’s Feudal Economy
At first glance, after three years of the war and economic sanctions, Russia’s economy appears remarkably stable. Output is rising, unemployment is at a...
The West Should End Russia’s Great Power Delusions
Three years ago, Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As the war goes on and the situation on the battlefield changes regularly, explanations...
China’s role in the SCO and its impact on the stability of Central Asia
China has long positioned itself as a major power in the Asian region in terms of its economy, military, and political influence. The country’s...