RUSSIA MONITOR MONTHLY 2/2020
Contents
From the History of the Belarusian Revolution
Mass protests following the rigged presidential election turned out to be the largest opposition movement against the authorities in the history of independent Belarus. Although Alexander Lukashenko continues to hold the reins of government, he lost legitimization and the majority of Belarusians are against him.
US Presidential Election 2020. Principles, Specificity, Influence on Foreign Policy
On November 3, the 2020 United States presidential election will be held. The main rivals are the current President Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party, and Joe Biden, a Democrat known primarily for his role as the Vice President under Barack Obama.
Baltic States Versus Russian Hybrid Threats
The threat from Russia’s foreign and security policy relying upon the strategic concept of rebuilding the sphere of influence in the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR, is what connects internal security of the Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Can Western Balkans Serve as Role Model of Integration for Eastern Partnership?
The article is a follow-up to the text by the Jagiellonian Club Przez Bałkany do Brukseli? Przyszłość Partnerstwa Wschodniego [Through the Balkans to Brussels? The future of the Eastern Partnership] whose authors compared the potential of the Western Balkans and the three outstanding Eastern Partnership nations.
The Awakening Of Private Military Companies
Private military companies, or PMCs, are independent corporations that trade military services through a wide range of opportunities they have due to their corporate nature.
Iraq’s Two Rivers
To those with tenacity to remain hopeful of a peaceful and stable political-operational situation in Iraq, taking seriously the cold and brutal geopolitical realities could benefit from some creative thinking. Incomplete information is a given in policymaking decisions. Fortunately, the solutions need not be perfect – just good enough.
Putin’s Constitution
With a constitutional overhaul of the balance of power in Russia, Vladimir Putin is pushing to consolidate his eternal grip on power. As Russia is seeing a slew of rifts in its politics, economy as well as social matters, any attempts to repeat its past ‘tandemocracy’, or the joint leadership of Russia between 2008 and 2012, are considered by the Kremlin as far too risky.
The Arctic Icebreaker: Russia’s Security Policy in the Far North
Whilst the Arctic is a geographical zone that could be labelled as “an area of potential competition between global superpowers”, this alone does not provide full insight into what is really taking place there. One could notice that solely Russia sees it as a key priority while comparing potentials of some of the region’s players, as well as the Arctic’s place on their respective political agendas.
The impacts of Brexit on the security and the defence industry in the European Union and the United Kingdom
On the 31st of January 2020 Brexit became a fact. Now with the help of a special transition period both the UK and the EU are actively preparing for the new reality apart from each other.
China-U.S. Trade War: Origins, Course and Consequences
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has fanned out around the globe since early 2020, has drastically reshaped world policies. Amidst a fast unraveling humanitarian crisis and a massive blow to the global economy, the U.S.-China trade war is now of secondary concern. Yet, it is a result of structural geopolitical rivalries and will strike even more forcefully after the ongoing crisis is over.
Russia Poses Greater Threat to Georgia
In its policy toward Georgia, Russia is seeking to prevent Tbilisi from forging a close alliance with the United States while blocking the Caucasian country’s bid for NATO membership.
Russian Airstrikes on Idlib Target Schools and Hospitals
Russian warplanes have intensified airstrikes in Syria’s Idlib province, the last sizeable rebel-held region that the Bashar al-Assad regime is trying to retake.
Hydrocarbons Only to Be Transported Under the Russian Flag?
The Russian government has a plan to “nationalize” the country’s oil and gas sector, both in terms of mining activities and maritime shipping.
Hydrocarbons Only to Be Transported Under the Russian Flag?
The Russian government has a plan to “nationalize” the country’s oil and gas sector, both in terms of mining activities and maritime shipping.
Russia Kicks Off Work On Egypt’s First Nuclear Power Plant
The Egyptian-Russian agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt is entering the implementation phase.
Russia’s Economy Is Becoming Heavily Dependent on Hydrocarbons
Vladimir Putin has not taken advantage of the long years of the oil boom and huge state budget revenues from oil exports to reform the economy.
Russia’s Lukoil Adds Mexico Oil Discovery to Its Portfolio
Russia’s Lukoil Adds Mexico Oil Discovery to Its Portfolio
Russia’s Shoigu Visits Belgrade: Will Serbia Fall Afoul of the U.S.?
Serbia’s ties with Russia are the best in many decades, as evidenced by Sergei Shoigu’s recent trip to Belgrade in what was yet another visit of a senior Russian official to Serbia.
Russia’s Rosneft Hits Record-High Profits and Pays Out Biggest-Ever Dividends
Throughout 2019, Russia’s state oil firm Rosneft earned 805 billion roubles ($12.6 billion), up from 649 billion roubles ($10.2 billion) in 2018. With increasing profits come record-high dividends to be paid out to the firm’s shareholders, including the state.
Attack in Donbass, Conference in Munich: Bad Signals for Ukraine
First, the 2020 Munich Security Conference brought no positive results for Kyiv, and then, soon after that, pro-Russian rebels launched an attack in the Donbass.
Warsaw Institute
