The Opportunity in Russia’s Economic Weakness

By James Kimer | Published: October 27, 2008

Doug Bandow, a former Reagan hand, is one of those unique right-wing guys who pushes the realist soft policy approach with Russia (more Kissinger than McCain, that is). Today he argues that “the incoming U.S. administration should use the present economic uncertainty as an opportunity to refashion relations with Russia.” This guy used to publish […]

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Don’t Count Out the Petrostates

By James Kimer | Published:

From the Asia Times Online: Without question, the landscape of diplomatic battles has been impacted deeply by the rise of petro-states in the context of ballooning oil prices. The question now arises whether this is just another bubble that will be pricked by the sharp recent fall in petroleum prices. Already, Western media outlets are […]

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Video: Igor Sechin and Sino-Russian Energy Cooperation

By James Kimer | Published:

Silovik-in-Chief Igor Sechin appears to be expanding his passport stamp collection with another series of foreign state visits – this time to China – to announce agreements to deepen energy cooperation and establish frameworks to increase supplies to the East. His last trips to Cuba and Venezuela were shortly followed by the deployment of nuclear […]

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The Flaws of a Gas Cartel

By James Kimer | Published:

We only partially agree with this Financial Times piece, which explains why Russia’s formation of an OPEC-like natural gas cartel with Iran and Qatar has some serious weaknesses which will in some ways prevent its ability to coordinate production. However the focus should be not only the price manipulation, but also the carve-up of markets […]

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Competing Visions of U.S.-Russia Relations

By James Kimer | Published:

Had there not been a massive financial crisis crippling the U.S. economy over the past two months and seemingly dominating the public’s short attention span for news, this very well could have been the foreign policy election of the post-Cold War era. Even Vladimir Putin has incredibly suggested that the war in Georgia was masterminded […]

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VEB Becomes Russia’s Pawnshop?

By James Kimer | Published:

The importance of the Kremlin-controlled piggy bank Vnesheconombank (VEB) is rising during this financial crisis, as the group becomes the government’s critical instrument in its efforts to re-nationalize a large slice of the economy from the country’s beleaguered elite business class. Eric Reguly at the Globe and Mail takes a quick look: The financial crisis […]

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Energy Blast – Oct 27, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

OPEC has received international criticism for cutting output in an attempt to prevent the oil price from crashing. Meanwhile the possibility of a ‘Gopec’ consisting of Russia, Iran and Qatar, has some observers worried. Russia and China are planning to sign a memorandum of cooperation in the oil sector, which includes a plan to direct […]

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Today in Russian Business – Oct 27, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

Oleg Deripaska’s Strikeforce Mining and Resources must postpone its IPO due to poor market conditions, and Deripaska’s Aughinish Alumina refinery is facing legal action ‘that puts his empire in jeopardy’. Will the oligarchs survive the financial crisis? Dmitry Medvedev is to present a series of measures to help the global financial crisis at the G20 […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Oct 27, 2008

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Lavrov unhappy with US sanctions on arms; EU to restructure Russian relations; Kremlin keeping tags on bloggers?; Lukhkov accused of influencing foreign policy under Vladimir Putin; UK’s Peter Mandelson under scrutiny for ties with Oleg Deripaska. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has condemned sanctions imposed on Rosoboronexport by the US State Department for selling arms […]

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Richard Lourie: Time to Release Khodorkovsky

By James Kimer | Published: October 26, 2008

Here’s an excerpt from the latest Richard Lourie column in the Moscow Times: It is now in Russia’s interest to release former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky from prison. That wasn’t always the case. Early on, the benefits outweighed the costs. Khodorkovsky was punished for his hubris. He dared to meddle in politics even though he […]

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