In the same boat: Why Taiwan is strengthening ties with central and eastern Europe
Based on the idea that Russia’s and China’s increasingly aggressive foreign policies are interrelated, Taipei is strengthening ties with central and eastern Europe
Russia
Putin’s military makeover: What to expect from Russia’s new defence minister
Putin’s appointment of Andrei Belousov as defence minister signals the Kremlin’s push to rapidly modernise the Russian military – and further reshuffles may be on the horizon
The EU’s sanctions odyssey: Understanding the proposed restrictions on Russian LNG and helium
Disagreement over expanding the EU’s energy-related restrictions makes a ban on Russian LNG imports unlikely. At the same time, potential measures on helium suggest Europeans are keen to avoid becoming dependent on the growing Russian industry
Trouble in Tbilisi: How Europeans can keep Georgia’s European dream alive
As Georgia looks set to adopt a Russian-style bill against “foreign agents” which will harm the country’s EU accession prospects, Europeans should be ready to suspend some funding assistance to Tbilisi
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
The EU’s plans to upgrade the Middle Corridor trade route may boost Russian and Chinese connectivity with central Asia. But for Europeans, the long-term economic and strategic benefits of going ahead with the development far outweigh these risks
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
Europe’s old Sahel strategy is dead – and Russia is circling over its carcass
Win big, lose bigger: Why Russia’s sham election result could become Putin’s mistake
Vladimir Putin’s ‘historic’ election result demonstrates his absolute control over the administrative system, but could also encourage him to make big political mistakes
A defeat for Putin in Ukraine will improve the chances for the Other Russia
Alexei Navalny’s funeral and this weekend’s so-called election show us two Russias. Support the better one
The women who could save Russia
The biggest threat to Vladimir Putin’s strongman rule may just come from women – especially when they base their activism on the very ‘traditional values’ he purports to venerate
Revanchism at prime time: Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, and Ukraine
Vladimir Putin’s ramblings to a compliant Tucker Carlson exposed the true motivations for Russia’s war against Ukraine