Analytics

Limits of Soft Power: How Russia’s Approval Ratings in Its Neighbourhood Are Shaped

Fri, 08 May 2026 11:00:00 +0300

High approval ratings abroad are a valuable foreign policy asset, but should not be an end in themselves. Moreover, as the contrasting examples of Central Asia and the Balkans demonstrate, such ratings arise not from the projection of soft power, but through effective economic integration in one case and a strong historical memory in the other, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Anton Bespalov.

Will an Anti-Turkish Alliance in the Eastern Mediterranean Lead Turkey to Strengthen Ties with Russia?

Thu, 07 May 2026 15:00:00 +0300

The recent prospect of a military alliance between Greece, Israel and Cyprus introduces a new variable into the Eastern Mediterranean security equation. Such an arrangement, even if initially limited, will inevitably be perceived by Turkey as an attempt at strategic encirclement. The consequences of this perception may extend well beyond the immediate theatre.

Parting With the Trump Illusions

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 +0300

As the Iran crisis drags on and the United States abandons all pretense of compliance with international norms and rules, it is becoming clear that Trump’s promise of putting an end to “forever wars” has not been kept. Now, hopes for restraint in US foreign policy are fading away—Oleg Barabanov, Valdai Club Programme Director, waves goodbye to Trump the peacemaker.

Valdai Club to Discuss Escalation in the Baltic

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0300

On 20 May at 11:00 (GMT +3), a discussion titled “The Baltic Region: Risks of Military-Political Escalation” will take place at the Moscow venue of the Valdai Club.

Valdai Club to Discuss the Future of Cultural Diplomacy

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0300

On 25 May at 16:00 (GMT +3), a discussion entitled “Is There a Future for Cultural Diplomacy in a World of Hard Power?” will take place at the Moscow venue of the Valdai Club.

Valdai Club to Discuss a New Sino-American Cold War

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0300

On 18 May at 15:00 (GMT +3), a discussion entitled “The United States and China after the Beijing Summit: Is a New Cold War Possible?” will take place at the Moscow venue of the Valdai Club.

Valdai Club to Discuss Partnership Between Russia and African States

Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 +0300

On 21 May, at 12:00 Moscow Time (GMT +3), a discussion entitled “Russia and African States: Objectives of Partnership” will take place at the Moscow venue of the Valdai Club.

Israeli Budgeting Politics and the War on Iran

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:00:00 +0300

The Israeli justifications for the timing of the operation against Iran have ranged from the growing nuclear threat to the weakening of the Islamic Republic’s governing system by preceding protests. However, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government—balancing on the brink of early elections—had at least one domestic political factor that pushed it towards escalation at the end of February this year.

The ‘Islamabad Moment’: When Pakistan Stepped into the World’s Most Dangerous Crisis

Tue, 05 May 2026 11:00:00 +0300

Pakistan’s role exists within a “hierarchy of global influence”. While it can create diplomatic openings, it cannot insulate them from the interventions, or the indifference, of major powers. This underscores a broader reality of contemporary diplomacy: “middle powers can initiate processes, but they rarely control their trajectory”, writes Almas Haider Naqvi.

The UAE’s Withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+: Economic Causes, Consequences, and Impact on the Global Oil Market

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:00:00 +0300

If one of the major Persian Gulf countries switches to a model of independent production maximisation, other producers dissatisfied with the strict restrictions may adopt a similar logic, writes Igbal Guliyev.

Valdai Club to Hold Its Sixth Central Asian Conference

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:00 +0300

On May 12–13 in Gelendzhik, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold its sixth Central Asian Conference, titled “Russia and Central Asia: Navigating the New World Order”.

New Horizons of Russia-China Cooperation

Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:00 +0300

On April 26-27, the Joint Annual Russian-Chinese conference, organised by the Valdai Club and the Centre for Russian Studies at East China Normal University (ECNU), took place in Shanghai. This year, its title was “The Era of Multipolarity: New Horizons of Russian-Chinese Cooperation”.

Great Power Strategies and the Middle East Crisis

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:00:00 +0300

A geopolitical whirlwind unleashed by the US-Israeli attack on Iran is sweeping across the Middle East and spilling out beyond the troubled region. Timofei Bordachev, Valdai Club Programme Director, explores the stakes global powers have in the unfolding crisis, pondering the conflict’s consequences for great power rivalry and the international system as a whole.