Russia Monitor Monthly 7/23
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Summit for Democracy: China’s Response
The Summit for Democracy, a new meeting format proposed by the US, will be held online on December 9-10, 2021. China was not included in the list of invited countries. Both the Chinese authorities and the state-owned media reacted negatively to this. It was also an opportunity to criticize American democracy, reiterate the “One China” policy, and deepen ties with Russia.
Russian Anti-Satellite Missile Test Causes U.S. Concern
Russia is developing air defense systems in space, which does not violate its arms control treaties with the United States. The country is enhancing its strategy for taking down U.S. satellites in the event of a conflict, believing this would curb America’s military advantage in this respect.
Gazprom Reports Record Results On Surging Gas Prices
Eye-watering gas prices are equivalent to a massive increase in profits for gas companies, including Gazprom, which accounts for a third of all gas imports into Europe. The tense situation in the energy market is profitable for the company and the Russian state authorities in general. In fact, Gazprom’s bigger profits mean more money to the Russian federal budget.
Moldova Settles Debt For Gas To Russia
Moldovagaz, a Moldovan utility company, has paid for Russian natural gas it received in the last month and a half. The move came shortly before the deadline from Russia and just after Moldovan lawmakers voted amendments to settle the debt for recent deliveries.
Putin Fires Russian Prisons Chief After Torture Scandal
President Vladimir Putin has fired the head of Russia’s prison system, Alexander Kalashnikov, replacing him with Deputy Interior Minister Arkady Gostev (since 2012) as head of Russia’s Federal Prison Service (FSIN). The high-profile sacking of Kalashnikov followed the firing of prison officers involved in the case. The latest personnel reshuffle came in the aftermath of leaked videos showing rape and torture in Russian prisons.
Russian Oil Output Is Growing
Russia raised its oil output by 0.3 percent in November, marking another growth this year. Since early January, Russia saw its total output of some 8.3 percent. Russian oil and gas condensate output rose to 1.485 million barrels per day (bpd) in November 2021. The country is expected to see growth in the months that come amid unlocked output curbs as stipulated in a deal Russia committed itself to within the oil-producing cartel and its allies (OPEC+).
Turkey: An unruly NATO partner?
Relations between NATO and Turkey have been strained since the country in 2017, purchased a Russian made S-400 missle defence system. Described as a “Russian intelligence collection platform”, US defence officials feared, the missle deal could lead to data leaks and security issues within the NATO alliance.
Russia Wins New Ally, Promising Cheap Gas
Russia uses gas supplies as a tool for pursuing its international policy. By offering cheaper energy, Moscow is expecting its customers to remain political friends, as was the case of Hungary, and now Serbia. The Kremlin is trying to lure other countries, including Moldova and Bulgaria.
A New “Green” Solution For Nord Stream 2
As Germany suspended the certification procedure for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline while the country’s new government is taking shape with the Green Party, Russia proposes hydrogen production to convince Berlin to give its green light to the contentious gas link. What might confirm that is the latest statement from the chief of the Russian trade bureau in Germany.
Russian Diplomatic Game Towards The Taliban Is Falling Apart
Moscow is making it clear it was not satisfied with the latest decision by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Russia is seeking to exert further pressure on the authorities in Kabul to milden its stance. The Taliban’s overly radical approach is barring Moscow and Beijing from making the new Afghani government an internationally recognized actor.
Putin Receives Armenian And Azeri Leaders For Talks
The optimistic moods that the leaders of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan showed at a meeting in Sochi cannot dispel doubts about future peace in the South Caucasus. Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled Russia’s role as a mediator, but he could curb military tensions in the region for some time only.
Report from the Eastern Borderlands
As the cold steppe winter is getting closer and closer Europe is facing a new humanitarian challenge and not as the result of the new wave of the covid-19 pandemic, but because of a huge migration crisis.
China Downgraded its Diplomatic Representation in Lithuania
On November 21, 2021, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has lowered the rank of its diplomatic representation in the Republic of Lithuania, following recent developments in the country’s political rapprochement with the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan), which is not recognized by Beijing. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that ties would be downgraded to the level of chargé d’affaires, a rank that is lower than ambassador.
Chinese Influence in the Slovak Information and Media Space
In recent years, the Slovak information and media space has been struggling with active disinformation actors, who have been quite willing to disseminate mostly pro-Russian narratives. China is currently an almost unknown phenomenon for Slovaks.
Turkish Option in Ukrainian Politics
Turkey as a NATO member would be an interesting partner to Ukraine, albeit potentially unstable. Currently the Turkish-French conflict on the situation in Libya, Azerbaijan and Syria escalates. It’s a point for Ukraine.
Moscow And Minsk Militarize Migrant Crisis
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus informed it would revise its 2021–2022 preparedness scheme while Nikolai Patrushev, a top Russian silovik, said Russia and Belarus would jointly respond to all provocations, also military. The reason is the migrant crisis that Moscow and Minsk are blaming the West for, which is yet another sign of ever-growing military ties between the two states.
Cooperation with Africa on the Current Chinese Agenda
On November 16, 2021, Li Keqiang, the Premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), attended the 4th Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation. The meeting is another stage of preparation before the larger FOCAC summit. What is more, the Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce presented the latest data on trade.
Quantum Race
Quantum computers employ the unique properties of atoms and photons to solve computational problems considerably faster than ordinary computers. On the one hand, their availability will enable breakthroughs in many disciplines, from medicine to space exploration or artificial intelligence. On the other hand, their ubiquity will certainly pose challenges to the economy and national security.
Macron, Putin Discuss Belarus Border Tensions
Russia and France have increased contacts between their top officials. It is not only about a phone conversation between the presidents, but also a two-plus-two meeting in Paris, where French and Russian defense and foreign ministers met.
CCP’s Sixth Plenary Session. Xi forever?
On Monday, November 8, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCCPC) commenced its sixth plenum in Beijing. During the meeting, which ended on Thursday, about 300 members of the Party, led by Xi Jinping, adopted a resolution which glorifies the Party’s achievements over the past century, especially those under Xi’s leadership.
Warsaw Institute
