Central Asian states are believed to be walking a diplomatic tightrope after Turkey’s downing of the Russian fighter jet. Being allies and trade partners with Russia but having close partnership with Turkey at the same time puts Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Uzbeks in a difficult situation to hold a clear position. These are Turkic people…
Stratfor forecasts on potential changes in military order in the Caspian Sea amidst the recent developments in the littoral states. Currently, Russia holds the strongest navy and military activities in the Caspian waters among the five bordering states including Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Russia has a stake in every military drill and operation in…
Russian and Iranian leaders agreed to boost cooperation in a number of sectors during a meeting on the sidelines to of the Gas-Exporting Countries Forum that took place on November 23. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held a press conference after the meeting, during which they commented on their countries’…
The Crimean Peninsula was left without power after two pylons transmitting electricity from southern Ukraine were knocked over. RIA Novosti and RFERL reported that a group of activists from the Ukrainian Right Sector nationalist group and Crimean Tatars encircled the area, preventing the Ukrainian national guard, local authorities and electricians from assessing the situation. Crimea…
For the first time, US export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe will be delivered to Lithuania, a shot across the bow in challenging Russia’s land-locked pipelines that supply Europe with a third of its total natural gas. The delivery will head to the Baltic country in February, transported by tanker to custom built…
The now-infamous Paris attacks are believed to be pushing Russia and the West closer as first signs of rapprochement appeared during the G20 summit in Turkey on 15-16 November. Unlike last year’s summit when Vladimir Putin left early due to the frosty atmosphere, this year the Russian president huddled for private chats with American and…
Pakistani President Nawaz Sharif met with Uzbek President Islam Karimov and signed a series of documents aimed at closer cooperation with Uzbekistan. The two leaders signed multiple memorandums of understanding, and finance ministers signed a protocol to increase bilateral cooperation and prevent double taxation. Sharif met last weekend with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to reach…
A Russian congressman proposed closing borders to migrants from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, in the wake of the attacks in Paris and last week’s arrest of over 150 suspected militants in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Vice Speaker of the lower house of the Russian legislature, son of founder Vladimir Zhironovsky and chairman of what many observers have…
Al Monitor recently published an interesting piece on brand integrity in Iran. The article focuses partially on misconceptions related to brand integrity and representation in Iran and partially on the possibilities inherent when and if existing commercial obstacles facing US companies are removed. A number of popular US businesses and fast food chains have been…
Russia has proposed an eight-point plan designed to put an end to the crisis in Syria, alleging that it presents Moscow’s vision and ideas, but also that it remains open to alternative proposals in the upcoming peace talks on November 14. The leaked document propose a constitutional reform in Syria lasting for 18 months followed by presidential…
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