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By Rhod Mackenzie

Now the banks of Russia and Iran have the opportunity to carry out transactions directly, both countries have connected their systems for transmitting financial messages, Mohsen Karimi, deputy head of the Central Bank of Iran for international affairs, told the Fars news agency....

By Alex Kupriyanov

Before the launch of the SMO, at Russian-Indian expert meetings, someone used to liken bilateral relations to a three-legged stool: two of the three legs - political, economic and cultural - were firmly in place, but the structure could only be stable if a third leg was eventual...

By Rhod Mackenzie

Throughout 2023, the West has been debating the possibility of abandoning liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia. The United States aims to 'strangle' the Arctic LNG 2 plant, a key Russian LNG project. However, Europe ultimately recognized the impossibility of the abandoning of...

By Rhod Mackenzie

The partnership between Russia and China aims to merge their economic development priorities with protection from growing Western pressure. This trend is expected to continue in 2024. According to Alexander Lomanov, a Sinologist and head of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at...

By Dr Arvind Gupta

Relations between New Delhi and Moscow have continued to strengthen despite Western sanctions on Russia. India, exercising its strategic autonomy, refrained from openly criticizing Russia's military actions in Ukraine, much to the West's disappointment. This was stated by Arvind...

By Oleg Barabanov.

Both during the Russian presidency and in subsequent years, the task of further optimising the BRICS+ format, as well as possible new rounds of expansion, is slated to become a priority, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Oleg Barabanov.

The current geopolitical confrontati...