Kazakhstan and the United States discussed cooperation in the field of energy security

The recent meeting between Kazakh and U.S. representatives in Washington stressed Astana's desire to balance its foreign policy between the West, Russia, and China, and the White House strategy to increase its presence in the Central Asian republic by supporting local infrastructural projects, particularly in the oil and gas field, and cooperating with Kazakh authorities to improve the conditions of the civil society.

January 25, 2023 Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598, Central Asia

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union reached an agreement on a free trade zone (Credits: MapChart.net)

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union signed an agreement on a Free Trade Zone

The agreement on creating a Free Trade Zone between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union stressed the rising diplomatic and economic efforts that Tehran and Russia are sustaining to counter Western sanctions and find alternative solutions for their economies and import-export activities.

January 20, 2023 Research & Monitoring, Middle East

Mikhail Mishustin attended the Russia Turkmenistan Business Forum

Mishustin’s visit to Ashgabat and the Russia-Turkmenistan Business Forum confirm Moscow’s strategy in Central Asia

The recent Russia-Turkmenistan business forum attended by the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin confirmed Kremlin's strategy in Central Asia and Moscow's desire to deepen economic and diplomatic cooperation with Ashgabat to avoid any further external interference by the European Union, China, or the United States.

January 19, 2023 Research & Monitoring, Central Asia

Islamic banking in Russia: why does it matter?

The Kremlin's project to evaluate the opportunity to implement Islamic banking in Russia might support the national economy, attract foreign investors from the Arab-Muslim world, and counter the consequences of Western sanctions imposed against Moscow due to the Ukraine conflict.

January 18, 2023 Research & Monitoring, Kavkaz, Russia

Russia’s economy since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict: sanctions are taking their toll

Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 27 Issue 3 - The Russian invasion of Ukraine has sparked economic sanctions, which are meant to cripple the economy while detracting from Russia's ability to wage war. This paper will analyse the sanctions' impact, the war on the Russian economy and possible future implications.

January 17, 2023 Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598, Russia

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan discussed resolving territorial issues

In a phone call, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon discussed bilateral relations with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and the delimitation of the common border necessary to resolve Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan territorial disputes which in the past have erupted in border clashes.

January 14, 2023 Research & Monitoring, Central Asia

SpecialEurasia partnership with Kaspiksij Vestnik

SpecialEurasia media partnership agreement with Kaspijskij Vestnik

SpecialEurasia reached a media partnership agreement with the information and analytical portal Kaspiskij Vestnik. The parties will jointly work to develop research and monitoring projects on the geopolitical issues of the Caspian Sea region and provide online platforms to reach a broader international public audience.

January 14, 2023 SpecialEurasia News

Potential risks facing businesses operating in Egypt

The pandemic crisis, the interruption of the supply chain, and the war in Ukraine with soaring fuel prices and shortages of flour and corn have put a strain on Egypt's economic stability. In 2022, the Egyptian government adopted measures which resulted in harsher conditions for companies and local citizens, which Cairo currently hopes to overcome with the support of the International Monetary Fund.

January 12, 2023 Research & Monitoring

Afghanistan: the terrorist attack in Kabul highlights an unstable domestic security situation

The Islamic State terrorist attack against the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Afghanistan in Kabul stressed the unstable situation in the country and the Taliban's inability to face terrorism and jihadist groups. Although the Taliban claimed that they had upgraded the national security situation since they took power in August 2021, the number of violent attacks and bomb blast have increased.

January 12, 2023 Research & Monitoring, AfPak

Tajikistan counterterrorism military exercises in Khatlon garrison

Tajikistan increases its counterterrorist readiness through military drills in Fakhrabad

Recent counterterrorism military drills in Tajikistan highlighted Dushanbe's necessity to upgrade its readiness and expertise in facing terrorist threats inside the country and jihadist activities from neighbouring areas of Afghanistan.

January 4, 2023 Research & Monitoring, Central Asia

Geopolitical risk Iran and the Caucasus SpecialEurasia

Geopolitical risk of Iran and the Caucasus: what to watch in 2023

Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 27 Issue 2 - In 2023, military escalations, domestic political turmoil, and economic crises might increase Iran and the Caucasus' geopolitical risk and threaten regional security, whose consequences might broadly destabilise the Eurasian strategic chessboard.

January 2, 2023 Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598, Kavkaz, Middle East

Geopolitical risk Central Asia and AfPak SpecialEurasia

Geopolitical risk in Central Asia and AfPak: what to watch in 2023

Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 27 Issue 1 - In 2023, foreign actors’ interests, terrorism, authoritarianism, and economic slowdown might threaten Central Asia and AfPak’s security and stability and increase regional geopolitical risk.

January 2, 2023 Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598, AfPak, Central Asia

SpecialEurasia: our 2022 in review

SpecialEurasia wants to celebrate the last year of activities with our friends, partners, sponsors, and followers, hoping to begin the following year with the same commitment. In 2022, we have improved our activities and projects and affirmed our presence in Italy and abroad thanks to webinars, official visits, meetings, and training courses.

December 30, 2022 SpecialEurasia News

The Rising Challenges of Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence to International Psychological Security

Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 26 Issue 5 - This report stems from the research project titled “Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence and Challenges to Psychological Security in Northeast Asia” (21-514-92001) and jointly funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS).

December 26, 2022 Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598

Iraq: the Islamic State continues threatening regional security

Recent violent attacks in Iraq demonstrated that Islamic State continues to pose a severe threat to civilians and security forces, even though the government declared its ‘total defeat’ in 2017.

December 19, 2022 Middle East, Research & Monitoring