Pope Francis welcomed by Russian Orthodox Church
The election of the first Latin American pope, seen as good sign for Orthodox-Catholic relations, was welcomed by representatives of the Russian church and the government
Russia plans to turn BRICS into a powerhouse alternative to the West
The Russian government is working on an integrated BRICS development programme that hopes to turn the bloc into a powerhouse alternative to the increasingly faltering West.
Revival of extremism in Eurasia
Though Central Asian states continue to uphold secular politics, the efforts of radicals to strengthen their constituency is undoubtedly a bigger concern for Russia
Russia vows continued support for Palestinian state
Vladimir Putin congratulated Palestine on the status of UN observer state and expressed hope that Russia and Palestine would preserve the positive trend in bilateral relations
Fatal Thaws
Moscow must press for an Alliance of Europe — a new economic and diplomatic framework among the EU, Russia and the rest of Greater Europe — which could offer a way out of the continent’s systemic crisis
Moscow regains lost ground with Hanoi
After Algeria and India, Vietnam is next in line to become a strategic partner of Moscow in the area of military-technical cooperation
Russia needs to develop eastern provinces as China rises
Moscow’s caution toward Beijing is reflected in its 2013 foreign policy doctrine, which calls for “a strategic partnership” with India, but for “strategic collaboration” with China
Slim hope for missile defence agreement with US - top Kremlin official
Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Ivanov believes Russia and the US have different approaches to global security issues
Growth of the Triangle and the Global Order
The rapid growth of Russia, China and India, though not totally hassle free, will have implications for the global order
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dies at 58
The late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died of cancer on March 5 after 14 years in power
Russian diplomats move into the real world
Russia’s much-anticipated Foreign Policy Concept has finally been released. While the latest version doesn’t contain anything revolutionary, it does provide insight into the Russian establishment sees the world
Lavrov-Kerry talks: Prospects of a new ‘reset’
In international politics, including relations between estranged nations, such types of talks, even if symbolic, matter a lot
Moscow looks to regain lost clout in Middle East
Russia launches fresh diplomatic counter-offensive to win back influence lost after the Arab Spring
Russia returns to the Mediterranean: Fifth Soviet Navy Squadron is back?
The Russian Mediterranean squadron is to be provided with comprehensive logistical support but at present the only Russian base and naval facility abroad is the Syrian port of Tartus
Medvedev: No grounds for new ''Cold War''
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has again dismissed speculations that the Russian-US relations are entering a new stage of the Soviet-era ‘Cold War’ and reiterated that Moscow and Washington can successfully cooperate on a variety of issues
View from Russia: Reluctant India essential part of a new world order
Any discussion of a multi-polar world replacing the US/Western dominance is certain to mention India as one of its new poles
Unlike Russia, Ukraine continues arms supplies to Pakistan
While in the past years, Moscow has made it clear that it will never supply arms to India’s enemies, Kiev has always been ambivalent on this issue
Coping with the times in Malé
Once the dust settles on the Nasheed affair, Delhi needs to ponder why such a significant section of the political and security elites in the Maldives has come to negatively perceive its policies
Russia stuck in Syrian conundrum
Moscow is looking for a force to take responsibility for the settlement in Syria
Extremism an anathema to freedom
Any linking of freedom with propagation of extreme ideologies is contentious, and may prove dangerous for democracy itself