International Affairs No. 6, 2024 – Table of Contents

Armen Oganesyan, Editor-in-Chief of International Affairs: Aleksandr Anatolyevich [Pankin], given that Russia has shifted its focus toward the East and the Global South, how effective is the Eurasian Economic Union in the current context? In other words, has the EAEU fallen off the global radar?

Aleksandr Pankin: That’s a good question. First off, I wouldn’t say that the EAEU isn’t part of the South or the East. Second, I won’t dwell on the reasons why we pivoted toward the South and East – those reasons are clear. The context is understandable…

Three familiar principles from [Nixon’s] statesmanship would continue to benefit the United States: the centrality of the national interest, the maintenance of the global equilibrium and the creation of sustained and intense discussions among major countries to construct a framework of legitimacy within which the balance of power can be defined and observed.

RELATIONS among the world’s great powers and leading states have always played a key role in maintaining regional and global peace. History provides ample evidence of this, including both world wars and the Cold War. The post-Cold War period was no exception, despite hopes for a so-called “peace dividend” and cooperation not only among the leading Western powers (which was already happening on the basis of “American leadership”) but also more broadly, including non-Western powers that…

BILATERAL relations between Russia and European countries worsened in 2014 after Crimea reunited with Russia following a referendum in which citizens of the peninsula voted to join the Russian Federation. Tensions are escalating on the European continent as a result of the West’s aggressive actions and terrorist methods against Russia in connection with the start of [Russia’s] Special Military Operation in 2022 to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, as well as the West’s consistent withdrawal from treaties that determine the architecture of European security. The international expert community has various perceptions of the situation in Europe. Both similarities and differences can be seen in the approaches of policy analysts from Russia and other countries to assessing European security.

THE first treaty to be terminated at the initiative of the US was the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) – the main treaty that had defined European security for over 30 years [17]. Russia was forced to withdraw from the treaty after the US did, although it had urged the American side not to take that step. At the time, during a meeting of the..

RELATIVELY recently, in 2022, two significant and interconnected dates on the UN calendar were observed: the 50th anniversary of the UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972) and the 30th anniversary of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (1992). In an article marking this milestone, “Unsustainable Sustainability: Agenda 2030 as a Means of Unifying the World,”¹ I attempted to provide a general overview of the emergence of the sustainable development concept and to evaluate the progress of its implementation under UN auspices. The conclusion then was, unfortunately, discouraging: There was little hope for meaningful results in reconfiguring the global economy toward sustainable development or for the timely achievement of the Agenda 2030 targets,² which include the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Today, in the immediate aftermath of the recently concluded UN General Assembly’s Summit of the Future: Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow (September 22-23, 2024, New York), it is appropriate to once again revisit the issue of SDG implementation and consider whether there is even a glimmer of hope for what the UN’s impassioned rhetoric calls a “better tomorrow.”…

THE new Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025 (hereinafter referred to as the OEWG or the Group), convened at Russia’s initiative and supported by the majority of the international community during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly,¹ began its main work in December 2021, with the final results to be assessed four years later.

To ensure that the OEWG’s work is systematic and practical, its chair, Burhan Gafoor, permanent representative of the Republic of Singapore to the UN, proposed that interim reports be adopted annually at the Group’s summer sessions. That proposal was supported by all states…

THE unanimous adoption in July 2022 of the first interim report by the new Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of information and communication technologies 2021-2025 was the result of a compromise to maintain the positive momentum of the Group’s work and prospects for reaching agreements that would help establish an international information security system.

Whether that decision by the Russian side was justified was to be demonstrated by subsequent OEWG meetings and the nature of any initiatives by other delegations. However, preliminary conclusions regarding the further development of this situation became possible after the review of relevant draft resolutions submitted by Russia and France to the First Committee of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in October-November 2022…

ON JULY 22, 2024, the world marked the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Bretton Woods Conference, which led to the establishment of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This milestone provides an opportune moment to assess the progress achieved and reflect on future challenges.

In 1944, when these institutions were created, the world was vastly different. World War II was still ongoing, but the defeat of Nazism was within reach. Beginning in 1943, consultations were held in Moscow and Washington among the Allies of the anti-Hitler coalition – primarily the US, the UK, and the USSR – regarding the future world order, including its economic dimensions…

ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1944, an economic department was formed at the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the USSR, marking the beginning of modern Russian economic diplomacy. Over the course of its existence, the current Department of Economic Cooperation (DEC) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undergone numerous transformations, gradually expanding its functions as the foreign economic agenda has expanded and become more complex…

IN NOVEMBER 2024, the next plenary meeting of the working bodies of the Kimberley Process (KP) – a unique sectoral regulatory mechanism ensuring the transparent functioning of the global natural diamond market – will take place. For nearly three years, this format has been under intense political pressure from Western countries, which, under the guise of anti-Russian hysteria, aim to dominate the global diamond industry. During this period, the KP has become a striking example of effective resistance to the hypocritical attempts of the collective West to undermine mechanisms of international cooperation outside its control.

Over its more than 20-year history, the KP participants¹ have succeeded in reducing the share of so-called “conflict diamonds”² in global circulation from 15%to 1%. This achievement has significantly strengthened the socioeconomic stability and security of African diamond-producing countries. The KP’s success lay in the constructive interaction of stakeholder states, the industry, and civil society to ensure the effective adherence to the core requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) – a set of universally recognized rules underpinning the global trade in natural diamonds. Despite occasional Western attempts to inject their own “value-driven” narratives, the Kimberley Process until recently served as a model multilateral platform for achieving effective consensus-based decisions…

THE Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region is in a challenging phase of development as it navigates the transformation of the international system and establishes itself as an independent center of power in the emerging multipolar world. Stability and the resilience of democratic institutions play a crucial role in these processes, strengthening their immunity to modern challenges and various authoritarian deviations…

MODERN South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries. It has developed and is successfully applying cutting-edge technologies, including those related to artificial intelligence (AI). South Korean technology giants like Samsung, LG, SK, and others are creating ecosystems that encompass a broad range of technological solutions and products, ranging from Al-driven solutions to railway trains.^{1, 2}

Like any other technology, AI can be used both for the benefit of society and for malicious purposes. In this article, we will examine the risks of the malicious use of AI technologies (MAI) in South Korea from an informational-psychological perspective…

SPAIN’S current system of territorial organization began to take shape after the death of Francisco Franco in 1975 and involved a political and legal process through which Spanish regions acquired autonomous status. The legal foundation for Spain’s democratic transformation was laid by the Constitution adopted on December 29, 1978. Between 1979 and 1995, 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities were established, with the broadest self-governing rights granted to three historical autonomies – Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia…

REGIONAL elections for the Catalan Parliament, held on May 12, 2024, marked significant shifts in the balance of power on the region’s political landscape. The elections culminated in a victory for the Catalan branch of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which secured the support of 28% of voters. This result translated into 42 seats in the 135-member legislative body, an increase of nine seats compared to the 2021 elections, where the Socialists also emerged as the leading force [1]. Despite this success, the nationalist bloc retained its ability to form a coalition government, holding an absolute majority of parliamentary mandates. Over the past 40 years, Catalan nationalists have consistently played a dominant role in regional government formation.

However, the most notable distinction between the 2024 elections and previous campaigns was the significant decline in support for nationalist forces, particularly the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC). The ERC garnered 13.7% of the vote and 20 seats, losing 13 seats compared to 2021. Another major nationalist force, Together for Catalonia (Junts), surpassed the ERC to claim second place with 21.6% of the vote. Junts increased its parliamentary representation by three seats, reaching atotal of 35 [1]..

WHILE antiterrorism cooperation within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues its long and steady decline, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are demonstrating a strong commitment to coordinating efforts and aligning positions in various areas, including national security. In September 2024, Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, hosted two significant and truly unprecedented events.

Foremost among these was a dialogue platform organized jointly by Uzbekistan’s State Security Service, the CIS Antiterrorism Center (CIS ATC), and the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure (SCO RATS). This platform for the first time combined two previously separate events: the CIS Conference on Combating Terrorism and Extremism and the SCO RATS International Scientific and Practical Conference. While this type of forum was the second such event for the CIS, it was the 10th such gathering for the SCO, drawing participants interested in antiterrorism cooperation…

AMID the ongoing reconfiguration of interactions among various players in the Middle East, the process of de-escalating the Turkish-Egyptian crisis appears to fit naturally into the broader regional trend of addressing longstanding issues. The official end of the longest conflict in modern history between Ankara and Cairo was marked on February 14, 2024, when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Arab Republic of Egypt for negotiations with his counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Many experts highlight the pragmatic interest of both sides in resuming comprehensive dialogue and emphasize the importance of strengthening their cooperation to enhance effectiveness on key regional issues (the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya, the Palestinian question, etc.). Considering the steps taken by Turkey and Egypt toward rapprochement – official visits and the revival of mechanisms for bilateral cooperation in parliamentary, governmental, economic, military, and other areas – it is reasonable to assert that the current stage goes beyond detente. Instead, it represents a full-fledged transition to a new phase of strategic rapprochement, which will significantly influence developments across the broader Middle Eastern network of regional interactions…

ON MAY 16, 2024, the Russia – Islamic World (RIW) Strategic Vision Group (SVG) held an international conference in Kazan titled “Russia – Islamic World: A Fair Multipolar World Order and Safe Development.” The event was attended by over 200 politicians, scholars, public figures, and religious leaders from 45 countries of the Islamic world, as well as 38 diplomatic missions.

The conference, held amid escalating international tensions and a new military and political crisis in the Middle East, sought to enhance Russia’s multilateral cooperation with Muslim countries and once again demonstrated the relevance of the RIW SVG as an international platform for the meeting of minds…

SPEAKING at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana on July 4, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the SCO, along with BPJCS, as one of the most highly respected multilateral organizations in the world – a pillar of the multipolar world order.¹

Indeed, in just over 20 years since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has become a significant factor in maintaining regional and international security…

AFTER expanding on January 1, 2024, BRICS entered a new stage – a period of qualitative change. The political weight and potential of the association have undeniably grown. In this regard, I would like to consider some very promising prospects for multilateral economic cooperation among BRICS members.

At the Primakov Readings in June 2024, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, characterizing the fundamental changes sweeping the Eurasian space, called BRICS the “driver” of Eurasian integration.¹…

THE collapse of the Soviet Union fundamentally transformed individual countries as well as regional and global development. This elevated the role of the philosophy of world politics as a methodological basis for identifying cultural and civilizational values and beliefs about the substance, nature, and prospects of political changes in the 21st century. Philosophy makes it possible to derive a methodology for studying world politics in both theory and practice…

DURING Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Russia. Malaysia’s potential membership in BRICS+ came under the spotlight. There is a growing narrative suggesting that Malaysia’s interest in BRICS is a pivot away from Western alliances, but this interpretation misses the strategic and nuanced reasons behind Malaysia’s engagement with this grouping.

Malaysia has long practiced a balanced foreign policy, engaging with both Western and non-Western powers to maximize its national benefits. This approach, rooted in pragmatic diplomacy, allows Malaysia to leverage opportunities from diverse global partnerships without being constrained by binary geopolitical allegiances…

THE modern world is in a state of strategic flux. The entire system of international relations and world politics is transforming. These changes may well be even more significant than those that occurred with the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. At that time, an essential element of the multifaceted world order system – the “socialist world” – was gradually disappearing, yet the system persisted for another three decades in a monocentric form dominated by the US and the collective West.

THE Middle East has always held a special place in the history of the Russian state and society, both for geopolitical as well as religious and spiritual reasons. Jerusalem and other centers in the biblical region are among the most significant focal points for Russian spiritual and cultural activity. Our ties with the Holy Land are deep, multifaceted, and enduring. In this context, the history of Russian diplomacy in the Middle East, as well as the role of the Russian Empire’s Consulate General in Jerusalem, are of particular interest…

THE ancient Lobanov-Rostovsky family belongs to the Rurikid dynasty, and Alexey Borisovich Lobanov-Rostovsky (1824-1896) was a descendant of Vladimir Monomakh, the Grand Prince of Kiev, who was called the “gatherer of Russian lands” during his lifetime.

Such an illustrious lineage predetermined not only Alexey Borisovich’s destiny in state service but also his passionate interest in history, as will be discussed below. As the prominent columnist Alexey Umansky wrote in 1896, the prince “belonged to the now almost extinct type of nobleman-diplomats of Catherine’s era. Equipped with a broad European education, a strong will, and a lifelong familiarity with his country, and supported by solid hereditary connections, Lobanov-Rostovsky firmly believed that a great country like his must inherently be destined for great tasks and the right to a grand existence among other European powers. Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky belonged to that rare class of people in our country who know what they want and are capable of unwaveringly progressing toward their goal.

Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?

WHAT associations come to mind with the word “Führer,” and whose image do we envision? For most, it is likely a figure from black-and-white newsreels with a distinctive mustache and haircut, and a swastika on his sleeve. A striking, forceful persona. The ideal angle always captures him at the center of attention. He is a prophet, passionately addressing an enraptured crowd shouting “Sieg Heil!”; a beaming, proud father of the nation presiding over another parade; or even a private citizen enjoying rare moments of deserved rest in nature…

IN 2023, the Moscow-based publisher Ves Mir released a book titled Selected Works* under the general editorship of V. A. Orlov. This book presents the collected writings of Roland Mikhailovich Timerbayev (1927-2019), an eminent diplomat and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the USSR and Russia.¹

The publication is a thoughtfully curated collection of articles, research notes, excerpts from monographs, and personal diary entries by Timerbayev on a broad range of issues related to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. The materials in the book, valuable in their own right, also serve as a documentary foundation for the thematic development of Selected Works – an unfolding narrative of Timerbayev’s personality, views, and convictions. Essentially, the book narrates the professional journey of its author, whose worldview is reflected in the description and analysis of evolving events and topics, such as the dawn of the atomic era, the history of negotiations on the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the establishment of the safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), regional challenges,…

THE collective monograph Information and Communication Technologies for the Global World,* edited by O.A. Melnikova with A.V. Krutskikh serving as project manager, is a comprehensive academic study devoted to the current state and future impact of scientific and technological progress on global policy. It examines a wide range of issues regarding the humanitarian and technological aspects of the information revolution’s impact on society, both on a global and national scale. The monograph analyzes the most important and timely aspects of international relations in the context of increasing challenges and risks directly associated with the evolution and wide-scale application of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Special attention is given to the aggravation of international tensions amid the total hybrid warfare of the digital era that Western countries are waging against Russia and its closest allies, including China.

The team of authors includes scientists, experts, diplomats, and specialists in world economics, communications, information security, and international relations from Russia and China. Together, they conducted comprehensive research on the evolution of ICTs and digital transformation from a scientifically grounded, practical perspective…

FUNDAMENTAL changes in Saudi Arabia’s domestic and foreign policies represent one of the most significant phenomena of our time, influencing global events. This is the central theme of a new book by Russian Middle East expert and international journalist Konstantin Dudarev, Saudi Arabia in the 21st Century: Revolution of the 30-Somethings or the Tsunami of Modernization* recently published by Nedra.

This work is both an analytical overview and a chronicle of the reforms initiated by King Salman since his ascension to the throne in January 2015, and by his son, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. These sweeping changes are guided by the strategic framework laid out in the Vision 2030 program. The essence of this strategy is a comprehensive modernization of the kingdom: reducing dependency on oil, diversifying the economy, diminishing the influence of religious hardliners, opening the country to the world, and transforming it into one of the globe’s premier tourist destinations…

Afonin S. Metropolitan Joseph (Semashko) and the Liberation of Belarus From Uniatism: The Story of an Unforgotten Hero – 3, 225

Aydogdyev E. The Social and Philosophical Legacy of Magtymguly Fragi: The Continuity of Ideas of Peace, Humanism, and National Unity – 3, 178…