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Published daily by the Lowy Institute

  • 13 Feb 2024
    • India
    • Laos
    • Russia
    • International law
    • Africa

    Russia’s shadow tanker fleet runs into trouble

    Selwyn Parker
    Every day, millions of barrels of oil are being transported by ships with obscured ownership and origin. But is the game up?
  • 19 Dec 2023
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Putin’s confidence heading into 2024

    Ian Hill
    In the Russian leader’s world, friends are returning and with it the whiff of success.
  • 27 Nov 2023
    • North Korea
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia

    Russia-North Korea: Closer, but not too close

    Ian Hill
    Gushing portrayals of a revived relationship should be treated with caution.
  • 13 Nov 2023
    • Middle East Conflict
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Middle East
    • Israel
    • United States

    1947 and now

    Steve Casey
    Strife in the Middle East, hyper-partisans in the US Congress, and Russian troops on the march. We've been here before.
  • 8 Nov 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Energy

    Ukraine’s energy fightback

    Stephen Minas
    Expert crews are risking their lives to keep the lights on amid Russia’s invasion – with help from far away, too.
  • 3 Nov 2023
    • Middle East Conflict
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Israel

    Russia seeks benefit from the Gaza conflict

    Ian Hill
    Moscow hopes the Middle East will distract the West from supporting Ukraine – but old troubles at home could stir again.
  • 2 Nov 2023
    • Europe
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • United States

    Ukraine: 2024 headwinds

    Mick Ryan
    A country already severely tested will face challenges in politics, maintaining global attention, and ensuring the necessities of war.
  • 26 Oct 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Review

    A Marshall Plan for Ukraine?

    John West
    History can be a useful guide, but the geopolitical circumstances of today are vastly different.
  • 24 Oct 2023
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Technology
    • Türkiye

    The dual-use conundrum

    Brendan Walker-Munro
    Restrictions on technology with both a civilian and military application are too often worthless without better coordination.
  • 6 Oct 2023
    • China
    • Australia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Energy

    Power of Siberia 2: Moving beyond a pipe dream?

    Genevieve Donnellon-May
    Australia would be wise to diversify its gas exports now before Russia’s pivot to Asia takes hold.
  • 5 Oct 2023
    • Central Asia
    • Caucasus
    • Russia

    Putin steps abroad, even as an international warrant hangs over his head

    Nikola Mikovic
    The Russian leader will use a regional summit in Kyrgyzstan in an attempt to show he's not isolated.
  • 2 Oct 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • United States

    Ukraine counteroffensive makes gains but dark clouds loom in Washington

    Adam Simpson
    Successful attacks and talk of new missile systems shifts momentum in Kyiv’s favour provided that political support is sustained.
  • 25 Sep 2023
    • North Korea
    • Russia

    The historical roots of North Korea’s lucky break with Russia

    Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein
    Kim Jong-un can thank decisions taken by his grandfather decades ago for any weapons exports to Russia that may come about in the future.
  • 19 Sep 2023
    • China
    • Malaysia
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia

    No neutrality in espionage: Why is Malaysia tangled up in a spying case in Norway?

    Munira Mustaffa
    Asking the Kremlin would be a good start.
  • 15 Sep 2023
    • North Korea
    • Russia

    North Korea undeterred – to Putin’s pleasure

    Gabriela Bernal
    Kim Jong-un sent a message in his summit with Vladimir Putin, not only about military cooperation but also regime survival.
  • 11 Sep 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Ukraine has Moscow in its crosshairs but that shouldn’t make us squeamish

    Tennyson Dearing
    Don’t be fooled by Putin’s bluster. Giving Russia impunity by limiting destruction to Ukraine is no way to win the war.
  • 5 Sep 2023
    • Australia in the World
    • Australian Defence Force
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Technology

    Danger Will Robinson: Warfighting robots fast approaching

    Peter Layton
    A swarm of angry Australian-made cardboard attack drones sets the scene for all future conflicts.
  • 1 Sep 2023
    • China
    • North Korea
    • Russia

    Can North Korea play off Russia against China?

    Khang Vu
    Pyongyang might have designs to take advantage of an increasingly desperate Moscow, but power rests with Beijing.
  • 31 Aug 2023
    • Russia

    Russia: The mafia as the state

    Munira Mustaffa
    Prigozhin’s death is only the latest example of an enigmatic fusion of formal governance and clandestine networks.
  • 30 Aug 2023
    • Europe
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • International law
    • United Nations
    • War Crimes

    Europe’s last war

    Ian Kemish
    Remembering the Bosnian conflict of 30 years ago to compare how the world responds to Russia’s war on Ukraine today.
  • 25 Aug 2023
    • Russia

    With Prigozhin gone, what next for the Wagner Group?

    Isabella Currie
    It’s a job few might want, but lacking a chief will make Russia's relations tricky in the countries where the group still operates.
  • 24 Aug 2023
    • Russia

    Prigozhin is dead, but Putin is still weakened

    Matthew Sussex
    It is important to remember that Putin personally and publicly gave the Wagner chief guarantees about his safety.
  • 17 Aug 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    The Baltic response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    Adam Simpson
    A history of atrocities at the hands of Moscow steels the resolve of its neighbouring states.
  • 14 Aug 2023
    • China
    • India
    • Russia
    • Space exploration
    • United States

    The Moon: The great game on new turf

    Ved Shinde
    India joins a powerplay with the United States, China and Russia in the hunt for lunar treasure and strategic superiority.
  • 10 Aug 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Review

    Fake news, propaganda, and the withering of commitment to truth

    Mark Pierce
    Joseph Stalin’s denial of access for Western journalists during the Second World War heralded the birth of disinformation.
  • 8 Aug 2023
    • Russia
    • Africa

    Shadows of the state: How Wagner Group extends Russian reach in Africa

    Munira Mustaffa
    The mercenary operations sit at the heart of a complex web of geopolitical ambitions, covert operations, and influence peddling.
  • 3 Aug 2023
    • China
    • India
    • Russia
    • Global Economy
    • United States
    • US Economy

    De-dollarisation: shifting power between the US and BRICS

    Michael Roach
    Will a new global reserve currency threaten the greenback's supremacy? The short answer is yes.
  • 2 Aug 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Moscow, we have a problem

    Angela G. Palmer
    Once useful mouthpieces, Russian military bloggers reporting from the front lines in Ukraine are now making the Kremlin nervous.
  • 31 Jul 2023
    • North Korea
    • Russia

    “Solidarity with Russia”: North Korea cements an anti-US bloc

    Gabriela Bernal
    With friends like these, you can stand against the pressure of enemies.
  • 28 Jul 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Exploring an end game in Ukraine? Not yet

    Ian Hill
    Moves towards negotiations are risky and could be interpreted by Putin as a sign of weakening Western resolve.
  • 25 Jul 2023
    • Defence & Security
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • International law

    Cluster munitions: A necessary defensive strategy for Ukraine

    Munira Mustaffa
    It is Russia, not Ukraine, abusing international principles. The law must not obstruct Ukraine to fight back.
  • 21 Jul 2023
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • Southeast Asia
    • Russia
    • Global Issues
    • Africa

    Who leads the world as longest in charge of their country?

    Daniel Flitton
    Put together a list and you can start to see a pattern.
  • 19 Jul 2023
    • Central Asia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade

    Why China tripled its heavy truck shipments to Central Asia: Unravelling the influence of Russia’s war in Ukraine

    Joseph Webster
    A sharp spike in overall exports to the region appears to provide Beijing a pathway to indirectly support the Kremlin’s war effort.
  • 19 Jul 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Trade
    • United Nations
    • Türkiye

    Why the Black Sea Grain Initiative must be restored

    John Denton
    The collapse of a deal integral to world food security will imperil millions of lives.
  • 13 Jul 2023
    • Central Asia
    • China
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Putin is Xi’s useful idiot

    Ben Scott
    In the geopolitical tussle between superpowers, Russia pays the price and China reaps the benefits.
  • 12 Jul 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Türkiye

    How long can Putin’s “special relationship” with Erdoğan last?

    Nikola Mikovic
    Despite mutterings about a Turkish “stab in the back”, Russia needs Türkiye – Putin’s reign may depend on it.
  • 11 Jul 2023
    • China
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Beijing’s bad bet on Moscow

    Ved Shinde
    The collapse of the Putin regime is something China wants to avoid. A weak Kremlin is better than a headless one.
  • 3 Jul 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Unleashing chaos: Nova Kakhovka Dam destruction threatens global food security

    Genevieve Donnellon-May
    The collapse of critical hydroelectric infrastructure will have devastating knock-on effects for Europe’s breadbasket.
  • 27 Jun 2023
    • China
    • Mongolia
    • Russia

    Mongolia in the middle: China and Russia may split over the allure of renewables

    Joseph Webster
    With an abundance of solar and wind power, the landlocked East Asian country is set to impact Sino-Russian relations.
  • 26 Jun 2023
    • Australia
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Public Opinion

    Australians stand with Ukraine – but attention won’t last indefinitely

    Elizabeth Buchanan
    The latest Lowy Poll should be a warning about the risk of not debating the end goal in a conflict.
  • 26 Jun 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Prigozhin’s mutiny: What does it mean for Putin – and Russia?

    Ian Hill
    A bizarre and audacious rebellion by the Kremlin’s own hired mercenaries has irrevocably weakened the regime.
  • 24 Jun 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    What does Wagner’s revolt mean for the future of Russia?

    Matthew Sussex
    The most serious challenge to Putin’s authority yet – even if crushed – has already done significant harm to the elite structures of the Russian Federation.
  • 22 Jun 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Why and why now?

    Ian Hill
    Putin’s desire to bring Ukraine back into the fold is mired in imperial nostalgia and bitter resentment.
  • 20 Jun 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • United Kingdom
    • Syria

    Chemical weapons: Impunity is killing deterrence

    Joel Keep
    Poisoning continues as a favoured form of invisible warfare meted out by dictators and autocrats, with horrific results.
  • 14 Jun 2023
    • Central Asia
    • Russia

    Russia’s ally Kazakhstan turns eyes to the West

    Nikola Mikovic
    The Central Asian nation is hedging its bets with a foreign policy trifecta based on peace, balance and pragmatism.
  • 23 May 2023
    • Australia
    • Terrorism
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • International law
    • War Crimes
    • Africa

    It’s time Australia branded Russia’s Wagner Group a terrorist organisation

    Isabella Currie , Matthew Sussex
    A record of abuses in conflicts from Ukraine to Africa makes designating the Russian group the right choice.
  • 22 May 2023
    • Russia
    • Ukraine

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is spurring a transition of global order

    Ian Hill
    We’re only beginning to grasp the far-reaching ramifications from escalating tensions and economic disruptions caused by Moscow’s belligerence.
  • 15 May 2023
    • Afghanistan
    • China
    • Russia
    • Ukraine
    • Iran
    • Saudi Arabia

    China to the rescue, with peace plans for Saudi, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan – up to a point

    Henry Storey
    These diplomatic gambits all carry a message. But conflict resolution isn’t necessarily the main one.
  • 10 May 2023
    • Pakistan
    • Russia
    • Energy

    Pakistan’s gamble with Russian oil

    Adnan Aamir
    Any deal will be hindered by US sanctions, refining challenges, transportation costs, and payment concerns.
  • 21 Apr 2023
    • Afghanistan
    • India
    • Russia

    India still needs to work with Russia on Afghanistan

    Kabir Taneja
    Proximity changes the priorities for India in a conflict on the doorstep.
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