Foreign policy
Russia - World

Russia in the New Syria: From Indispensable Ally to Auxiliary Partner

Nikita Smagin on how Damascus is closing the door on a return to Russian dominance
Riddle Political News Week
Direct Line Without a Message
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (November 10−14)
Andrey Pertsev sums up the political week (November 10−14)
By Andrey Pertsev
Riddle Economic News Week
When Witkoff Closes a Door, He Opens a Window
Nicholas Trickett with the economic summary of the week (November 17−21)
Nicholas Trickett with the economic summary of the week (November 17−21)
By Nick Trickett
Witnesses of Chaos

Anton Barbashin on the Five Postulates of Russia’s «Chaos Theory»
A Preview of the Caucasus to Come

Roman Chernikov on how the interests of Moscow and Washington unexpectedly converged on the Caucasian rails — and why this doesn’t make life any easier for Yerevan
Chronicle of a Deal Missed

Anton Barbashin on what Trump wanted from the Kremlin, what Moscow offered in return—and why a year of the most intense Russia-U.S. talks in decades ended back at square one
Five Principles of Russia’s New Middle East Policy

Nikolai Kozhanov on Russia's Evolving Footprint in the Middle East and North Africa since 2022
The Visa-Free Litmus Test

Alexey Uvarov on the twists and turns of Russia's visa talks with the EU
Top reads
  • State of Unreadiness

    Andras Toth-Czifra on Russian Regional Budgets in 2025−26

  • Russia’s Securitized Boomerism

    Julian G. Waller discusses the problem of generational sclerosis within Russia’s elite and new efforts at belated reform

  • The Middle East on the Ukrainian Front: From One-Off Actions to Systematic Recruitment

    Nikita Smagin on how the Middle East is emerging as a promising manpower pool for Russia's armed forces

  • In His Own Image and Likeness

    Andrey Pertsev on how Sergei Kiriyenko is shaping his personnel strategy

  • Five Principles of Russia’s New Middle East Policy

    Nikolai Kozhanov on Russia's Evolving Footprint in the Middle East and North Africa since 2022

  • US Nuclear Tests Will Seal the Demise of Arms Control

    Maxim Starchak examines how Trump could ignite a nuclear arms race, drawing in Russia, China, and other nuclear powers whether they like it or not

  • The Visa-Free Litmus Test

    Alexey Uvarov on the twists and turns of Russia's visa talks with the EU

  • Chronicle of a Deal Missed

    Anton Barbashin on what Trump wanted from the Kremlin, what Moscow offered in return—and why a year of the most intense Russia-U.S. talks in decades ended back at square one

Authors
  • Nikita Smagin

    Expert on Iran, Islamism and Russia’s foreign policy in the Middle East, author of the book «Iran for Everyone: Paradoxes of Life in an Autocracy under…
  • Anton Barbashin

    Editorial director at Riddle, political analyst
  • Roman Chernikov

    Political scientist
  • Nikolay Kozhanov

    Research Associate Professor at the Gulf Studies Center (GSC) of Qatar University. Non-Resident Scholar at the Economics and Energy Program of the Middle East…
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