Russia in Global Affairs

The approximate design of an umbrella for the nuclear powers is not too complicated. It includes expanding the channels of communication between the military at all levels, exchanging information about their nuclear missile forces, strategic doctrines and modernisation plans, concurrent measures to reduce the level of a missile systems’ combat readiness, the beginning of meaningful consultations on the most dangerous military technologies, and joint actions against the threat of nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

I do not think that there is a serious risk for Russia to end up in strategic dependence on China. No dependence on any external center is acceptable for Russia with its sacred striving for sovereignty. It cannot be anyone’s “younger brother.”

The concept of BRICS has always provoked a lot of debates, and those will turn even more heated as previous international arrangements are being eroded. Will BRICS be able to increase its potential and make a pillar for the world order in the future? Read analysis by Igor Denisov, Andrei Kazantsev, Fyodor Lukyanov and Ivan Safranchuk, published recently by Strategic Affairs.

In other words, COVID-19 does little to change the way the sanctions are applied in practice. They remain an instrument of coercion and pressure which is used to attain foreign policy goals. As the epidemic subsides, the situation will get back to normal with fewer humanitarian declarations or exemptions.