Moscow - Energy Security

A “Soft Alliance”? Russia-China Relations After the Ukraine Crisis

Alexander Gabuev — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:26:53 +0000

The danger for the EU in the rapprochement between Russia and China lies in the fortification of the Russian economy against sanctions and in an increased assertiveness for China.

Winners and Losers in the Black Sea Gas Game

Thomas de Waal — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 10:50:28 +0000

Calling time on the South Stream pipeline project in Ankara, Vladimir Putin tried to spin it as a win nonetheless, by announcing a new Black Sea pipeline to Turkey instead. If it ever comes to fruition, the new Russian-Turkish gas project could be a competitor to Azerbaijan gas ambitions.

OPEC Cuts Into Russian Coffers, But Will Expensive Grand Strategy Live On?

Yuval Weber — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 10:54:43 +0000

In reduced economic circumstances the big test for Russia is whether it will be forced to retrench, or whether Vladimir Putin will take his chances on expansionist foreign policy at a moment when there’s less money to go around to combat legitimate threats.

Anxious in Ankara

Mikhail Krutikhin — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:46:11 +0000

Vladimir Putin’s trip to Turkey could help him recover from the Brisbane cold-shouldering. However, nothing will make Ankara abandon its great strategic goal to become an indispensable supplier of natural gas to Europe and a major competitor for Gazprom.

Turkey’s Strategy for Turkmenistan: What Is Behind Erdoğan’s Last Visit to Ashgabat?

Pavel Shlykov — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 10:34:07 +0000

Turkey sees the acute energy market competition as an opportunity to establish itself both as an influential energy state and as a central Eurasian power. In this regard, choosing Turkmenistan as the site of one of the first state visits by the new Turkish president was not accidental.

A Hereditary Disease

Mikhail Krutikhin — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 09:59:22 +0000

The old Soviet “enemies-are-everywhere” mentality frequently leads Russian decision makers to losses and defeat.

East or West, Home Is Best

Mikhail Krutikhin — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:48:29 +0000

Moscow’s most recent, failed attempt to cooperate with China on the Altai gas pipeline shows that its political ambitions are not compatible with elementary arithmetic.

Russia’s Growing China Connection

Dmitri Trenin — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 13:16:23 +0000

Rather than “replacing” Europe with China in its foreign policy universe, Russia would be wise to develop its relations with Beijing closer to the level of the very thick ties which link it to its Western neighbors.

Hot Water in Ukraine

Balázs Jarábik — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:17:45 +0000

Ukraine needs more than the current level of Western assistance. But the Ukrainian government also needs to pull its weight, promising (and delivering) transparency.

Switching Aims

Mikhail Krutikhin — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:31:24 +0000

The only possible source of money for the Power of Siberia project is no one else but China. And the terms of this assistance will be dictated from Beijing. The Kremlin’s inability to come to terms with the Western world does not come cheap.

As US, EU Close Doors, China, Russia Open New Ones

Dmitri Trenin — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 22:56:13 +0000

Russia’s efforts to find an acceptable place for itself in the U.S.-led Western system have ended in a bitter disappointment. The changing trading patterns point to a new era in Moscow’s foreign relations, in which Sino-Russian relations will be taking center stage.

A Mixed Blessing?

Mikhail Krutikhin — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 07:36:36 +0000

The effect of the new sanctions on the Russian oil and gas industry might be very sensitive while at the same time saving large sums of money on projects with impossibly long payback prospects. Either way, Western governments are now doing basically what the Russian leader always wanted, staying away from Russia’s oil and gas.

Is There a Solution?

Sergei Aleksashenko — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:59:57 +0000

Ukraine’s position as an important transport corridor for Russian gas has resulted in various periods of conflict between Ukraine and Russian-state owned gas companies. But, even though both recognize they will not reach a long-term agreement quickly, one can easily see that the number of disagreements between them is not great. Both realize the need to compromise.

Iran, Russia, and the Ukrainian Crisis

Alexei Arbatov — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:12:50 +0000

The fundamental dilemma of Moscow’s policy lies in whether it is worth cooperating to achieve a comprehensive agreement with Iran, which would primarily be a success for the United States, under conditions of confrontation with the West over Ukraine.

Time for Russia to Reconsider Its Arctic Strategy

Brock Bodine — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 06:44:30 +0000

Tensions in Ukraine threaten to alter the security environment in the Arctic. Russia must, therefore, proceed with caution if it wants to maintain previous levels of cooperation. Only time will tell if the hawks in the Kremlin will be willing to engage in cooperation rather than see the region as a zero-sum game.