Russia Monitor Monthly 7/23
Content
Geopolitical Dynamics: Private Military Companies – Warsaw Institute Expert Debate
EVENTS Data: Geopolitical Dynamics: Private Military Companies – Warsaw Institute Expert Debate At 6 PM Tuesday, 22 October 2019, in Warsaw, experts and the audience gathered to attend an elite debate on private military companies fighting across the...
Russia in Africa: Weapons, Mercenaries, Spin Doctors.
The Kremlin eyes the African continent as yet another arena of a massive clash with the West, as it did under the Cold War reality. But their competition has now been of a rather practical and economic nature, pushing ideologies somewhere to the margin. Also, Moscow has enjoyed the positive image it had retained in Africa back from the Soviet times.
Warsaw Institute Expert interview for El País Internacional
Grzegorz Kuczyński, Director of Eurasia Program in Warsaw Institute (Poland) gave an interview to the El Pais International. In the article entitled “Polish ultraconservatives face re-election” by Paula Chouza, there are answers to questions about Russia’s threat towards Europe and the military relationship between Warsaw and Washington.
Turkey’s Invasion of the Syrian Kurds
Codenamed Operation Peace Spring, the Turkish offensive into Syria is likely to shift the balance of power in Syria while deteriorating Ankara’s relations with the West.
“Post-Soviet” EU Serves Russian Interests
The Eurasian Economic Community, known as EAEC, was poised to become somewhat a response to the European Union, or a free-trade institution in the post-Soviet region. The past four years have seen an increase in the trade exchange between EAEC member countries, far higher than before launching the organization. Even though it remains on a relatively low level, unable to depict progressive economic integration. The community’s goal is first and foremost to serve Russian economic expansion.
Another Success of Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Autocephaly Recognised by Church of Greece
The Council of Bishops of the Greek Orthodox Church has officially recognised the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which was established at the end of 2018.
Balancing Between Putin and Trump: Erdogan Plays Up Syrian Conflict
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is building up his strong independent position in the Syrian war theatre.
A bigger defence budget of Finland. Modernisation of the fleet and more
The Finnish government is to increase spending on defence in 2020, even though minimally.
Strategy Duologue at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Warsaw
On Tuesday, 15.10.2019, The Warsaw Institute Review (WIR) held a “Strategy Duologues on Geopolitics” meeting at Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Warsaw. It comes at a particularly important time, during recent developments pertaining to Turkey’s role in northern Syria.
U.S. Sanctions Hit Chinese Company
The Donald Trump administration has blacklisted China’s COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) and its affiliated unit COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman & Ship Management. And though U.S. punitive measures failed to cover the whole company –– known worldwide as one of the biggest container ship owners –– they have yet caused significant market turmoil while, quite unexpectedly, striking a blow to a Russian LNG venture.
How Will Russia React to Forthcoming Oil Crisis?
The Russian government has for the first acknowledged what had been discussed on the worldwide stage, admitting that a continued drop in demand for oil supplies is inevitable.
Belarus: Crude From Poland May Be A New Alternative to Costly Russian Oil
Belarus keeps losing millions of dollars as a result of tax changes introduced in the Russian oil sector.
Belarus’s Lukashenko Criticizes NATO over Joint Russian-Belarusian Drills
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a convenient justification for having carried out a series of military drills altogether with Russia. In his rhetoric, the Belarusian leader displays them as a response to extensive NATO exercise to be held in Poland and the Baltic states.
Turkey’s Invasion of the Kurds: Russia-Backed Al-Assad Likely to Triumph
Abandoned by their U.S. ally, the Syrian Kurds can quickly forge a new alliance. As Trump no longer holds interest in upholding a coalition with the belligerent militia that served a leading role in defeating Daesh, these could agree on cooperation with Moscow and Damascus. Facing the Turkish incursion, the Syrian Kurds may make concessions in their talks with the Al Assad regime. Earlier, the Kurds –– shelled by the Turkey-led coalition –– had agreed with the Syrian government forces. While dealing with the Turkish assault, they may opt for the lesser evil, recognizing Damascus’s sovereignty and a more limited autonomy for their people.
Viorica Dancila’s government collapsed. This is a result of no-confidence vote
The motion of no-confidence was supported by six opposition parties, with National Liberal Party (PNL) ahead. It was barely achieved as five more than required 233 members of parliament voted for the motion.
Congress 590 – Overview
“Congress 590” is the largest event in Poland devoted to economic development, and since its very beginning has been supported by the Warsaw Institute and the Warsaw Institute Review. On this occasion, we appeared as content and media partners.
China Gets First Oil Cargo from Russia’s Arctic
For the first time in history, Russia’s Arctic oil volumes have been delivered to the Asian market in a rare trade shipment on the Northern Sea Route. Lukoil’s trading arm, Litasco, sold the cargo of 100,000 tonnes of Varandey Blend oil to Chinaoil, the trading branch of state-owned CNPC. The delivery was made by the tanker Korolev Prospect in mid-September.
Geopolitical Dynamics: Private Military Corporations – expert debate of the Warsaw Institute Review
On Tuesday 22.10.2019 in Warsaw, a leading debate of Warsaw Institute experts will take place examining the role of private military corporations fighting on behalf of world powers.
Rostec CEO Chemezov Gathers Steam
CEO of Russia’s state hi-tech corporation Rostec Sergey Chemezov has been awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation medal. He has been handed out the highest state awards by President Vladimir Putin for his “outstanding contribution to the development od the defense and industrial conglomerate and raising the country’s defense capabilities.”
Estonia: Former KaPo Officer Convicted of Spying for Russia
A court in Tallinn has found a former officer of Estonia’s Internal Security Service (KaPo) guilty of cooperating with Russian intelligence services. A bit earlier, a court in Tartu had convicted a Russian citizen of spying for Moscow. Both judgements have already entered into force. The spies were detained in the spring of 2019 – they have been added to an ever-growing list of people collaborating with Russia’s special services who have been captured, tried and sentenced to prison for acting against Estonia.
Warsaw Institute
