The fact is that the changing balance of power on a global scale and the inability of previous leaders to maintain their positions causes a fundamental restructuring of the international order. It has become a common opinion in recent years. It is difficult to argue with its validity: first of all, because the power base has really changed – there is no longer a group of countries in the world…
Russia is to hold a parade on Friday to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The main point of parades is not the parade itself, but to move on to the future world we want to build after the parade. This is what both Russia and China are doing, with their leaders, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, meeting in Moscow during the celebrations. Both…
Today, the central commemorative event of Victory Day celebrations in Russia is the military parade. The main parade traditionally takes place on Red Square in Moscow, with additional military parades being held simultaneously in numerous other cities across the Russian Federation. Historically, the first Victory Parade took place on Red Square one and a half months after the end of the war in Europe – on June 24, 1945. It…
As we approach a major anniversary, 80 years since the defeat of fascism, a strange silence hangs over my country, Macedonia, and the broader region we now call the “territory of former Yugoslavia.” National authorities have been under sustained external (Western) pressure for years: May 9 must no longer be associated with the victory over fascism. Year after year, in both public memory and the education system, May 9 has…
It appears that the Victory of May 8th and 9th in France is more and more viewed by the present generations as a US victory, as if memory and history had been defeated by another, more powerful, level of “consciousness”: fame, Olivier Roqueplo writes. May 9th is Victory Day in Russia and it should unite most Europeans. But unfortunately, even in victorious France, history, real memory and the public imagination…
On May 6, 2025, the Valdai Club presented a Valdai Paper titled “Immortal Letters of Victory” on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet people’s victory in the Second World War. It included previously unpublished handwritten materials from the war – fragments of the front-line diary of Guard Sergeant Petr Nosov, letters from partisan Tamara Avalyan, orphanage worker Nina Mayer, and senior lieutenant Vasily Lazarevsky. Oleg Barabanov, the moderator…
Turned yellow over time, soldier’s letters – pieces of paper folded into triangular shapes sent from the frontlines with field post office postmarks – and diaries are unique witnesses of the unparalleled feat. They still hold the warmth of our compatriots’ hands, their faith in and hopes for peaceful life, and the truth of 1,418 sleepless nights. Simple, and occasionally sad, these documents, imbued with the spirit of heroism, have…
The emergence and evolution of civilizational consciousness and identity in Africa unfold within a context marked by profound identity crises and shifting mentalities, shaped by contemporary sociocultural and political transformations, Elena Kharitonova writes. African history, marked by profound sociocultural, political, and psychological upheavals, brings to the fore the complex issue of identity. These transformations – whether affecting individuals, communities, ethnic groups, or entire civilizations – sharply raise questions of self-determination…
The EU is no longer sustained by peace and prosperity – it’s running on panic. And that panic is destroying the very foundations it once promised to uphold, Kancho Stoychev writes. Every narrative posing as analysis hides a climax. And every analysis, this one included, is subjective. That doesn’t eliminate the necessity for objectivity. The common refrain, “the European Union is in crisis,” conceals a deeper turning point with two…
However, in practice, such opposition has not yet been observed. Congress has not shown much activity regarding Russia, even at the level of bills. Since the beginning of 2025, that is, in less than five months, five bills have been introduced in both houses of Congress implying sanctions against Russia. For comparison, there are 10 bills against China and seven bills against Iran. We are talking only about bills that…
BRICS+ stands at a critical crossroads, navigating the delicate balance between reforming existing global governance structures and ambitiously seeking to redefine them. At the heart of this evolution lies the dynamic between Russia and India – a relationship marked by both deep strategic cooperation and underlying geopolitical strains, Pravesh Kumar Gupta writes. In an era of heightened geopolitical flux, the post-COVID-19 global order appears increasingly fractured. The once-harmonious narrative of…
If McKinley symbolizes “greatness” for Trump, Mexico embodies many of the country’s problems. Back in 2015, when announcing his first presidential campaign, Trump declared: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best... They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” While the idea of renaming the Gulf was first floated at Trump’s press conference on January 7, 2025, it’s likely that the president had long been bothered by the reference…
On April 21, on the eve of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, which is celebrated under the auspices of the UN, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion titled “The Boundaries of Reason: The Diplomat’s Work in New Realities.” The moderator of the discussion, Anton Bespalov,called the fading of traditional diplomacy in the West and its flourishing in the Global South an important element of the new…
Programme of the 2nd “Valdai – New Generation” Conference of the Valdai Discussion Club Moscow, April 23 – 25, 2025 From April 23 to 25, the Valdai Discussion Club will host a conference for participants of its Valdai – New Generation project at its Moscow headquarters. Valdai – New Generation is a dynamic community of researchers under 35, united by their pursuit of innovative solutions to the most pressing…
In terms of geoeconomics, Asia has grown increasingly strategic. The emergence of China, India and other new economies like Indonesia has put Asia in a strong position to support global expansion and to encourage collaboration with African nations. The most recent development is the growing possibility of South-South cooperation through diplomacy in the spirit of the Bandung Conference. The engagement of Indonesia's younger generations will provide innovation and new perspectives.…
Trump's Foreign and Military Policy In a series of articles, even before the announcement of Trump's tariffs, we examined the foreign and military policy of the US President. The contradictions in Trump's policy support the view that his goal, along with the faction of big Capital that has rallied behind him and Mr. Netanyahu, is a strategic retreat. They realise that the West is not capable of achieving the objectives…
Greenland’s liberation from Danish colonial rule would inevitably lead to a new form of dependency. The United States has persistently positioned itself as Greenland’s next protector – a role its people will likely have no choice but to accept. The real question is whether Trump will accelerate this process to achieve his goals before his term ends, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Anton Bespalov. When Donald Trump first proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark in 2019, many dismissed the idea as absurd.…
Neocolonialism is the main means by which Africa is dominated by its former metropolises and other Western countries. By supporting African countries’ struggle against modern neocolonialism, Moscow is returning to the traditions of international solidarity it inherited from the Soviet era, which in some respects were established during an earlier stage of Russian history. Neocolonialism is the main, although not the only form of Western domination in Africa. Not all…
On April 8, 2025, the Valdai Discussion Club hosted a presentation of the report titled “The Evolution of the BRICS Value Platform.” The discussion was moderated by Oleg Barabanov, the author of the report and programme director of the Valdai Club, who proposed discussing what the BRICS values are and how they are used in real political activity. Pavel Knyazev, Sous-Sherpa of Russia to the BRICS, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian…
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Middle Eastern countries have increasingly figured into the international agenda as mediators in the dialogue between the West and Russia. Not only do they actively participate in humanitarian initiatives, such as prisoner exchanges, but they also influence key aspects of the negotiation process. Against this background, Riyadh stands out in particular, having become the venue for the first round of high-level talks…
On March 25, Israel’s legislature, the Knesset, approved the country’s budget for the current year, preventing the collapse of Benjamin Netanyahu's government. At the same time, the ratio of military to civilian spending, the attraction of funds from the Israeli Citizens Fund and a number of accompanying factors have turned the document not only into the main financial plan, but also a kind of political plan for the future, Elizaveta…
The degradation of US-China relations and ASEAN’s inability to effectively cope with the most sensitive security challenges have called into question the central role of the Association and created a fundamental dilemma for the ASEAN - how to organically fit into the emerging regional and global order and not lose its relevance, writes Alexander Korolev. During the Cold War, the centre of gravity of the confrontation between the US and…
On March 31 – April 1, 2025, the Russian-Chinese conference titled "Space of Joint Development: Global and Eurasian Dimensions” was held in Shanghai, organized by the Valdai Discussion Club and the Centre for Russian Studies at East China Normal University. The event served as an important platform for discussing the strategic aspects and prospects for the development of the partnership between Russia and China. The main focus of the conference…
On April 8 at 15:00 Moscow Time (GMT+3), the Valdai Club will host the presentation of a new report, titled “The Evolution of the BRICS Value Platform”. BRICS has become a significant association for the leading countries of the global majority, and has attracted more and more participants, partners and observers. From the very beginning, the image of BRICS as an alternative to the West has prevailed in the perception…
The engagement of Central Asian states with the Taliban-led Afghan government has drawn significant regional and global interest. While the Central Asian republics view the Taliban as partners for economic connectivity, regional stability, and counterterrorism cooperation, Pakistan is approaching the situation from a perspective shaped by its historical ties, strategic priorities, and pressing security concerns. Pakistan, much like Central Asian states, has sought to enhance trade, regional connectivity, and security…
The BRICS+ model While the EU offers an excellent example of rivals-turned-allies, which have agreed to give up a bit of sovereignty for the sake of collective benefit, BRICS+ is one of the most underrated and perhaps misunderstood platforms of our times. The EU functionalist model could be adopted by apolitical ASEAN, and to some extent there’s room for applicability within the EAEU. BRICS+, however, belongs to a different championship:…
On March 27, the Valdai Discussion Club Conference Hall in Moscow hosted a discussion titled “The Crisis of Growth in NATO or the End of Atlantic Unity?” The event was moderated by Timofei Bordachev, Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club. He noted that now the Transatlantic unity, which gave birth to the concept of the ‘Collective West’, has…
Priceless black gold The oil and oil products sector is more predictable and is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future: Russia supplies hydrocarbons to all Central Asian countries, while of these nations, only Kazakhstan has significant oil reserves (although it does not own most of the extracted oil). In 2024, oil and gas condensate production in the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 87.8 million tonnes, of which two thirds…
Pakistan’s indigenous AI capabilities, exemplified by its Burraq and Shahpar-II drones, signify its determination to counterbalance India’s advancements. These platforms, while still evolving, have demonstrated the potential to contribute to Pakistan’s broader strategic objectives. Moreover, AI’s utility in countering non-traditional threats — such as cross-border terrorism and hybrid warfare — adds another layer to its strategic relevance. Along the Line of Control and the Durand Line, AI-enabled surveillance systems and…
On March 24, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and Iran. Moderator Ivan Timofeev described the signing of this treaty as one of the most significant foreign policy developments in recent years. He highlighted the shared interests between Russia and Iran, particularly in light of the comparable pressure both nations face from Western countries, which has laid the political groundwork for…
Until then, Hungary will have to endure growing pressure on sovereign forces within the EU, primarily targeting itself. With changes in America, the centre of gravity for progressive globalist politics is shifting to Western Europe by default, complicating the position of patriots. At the same time, Trump’s return has a clear positive effect for European sovereigntists, particularly Orbán. Good relations with the US president could not only help the Hungarian…
Each party at the negotiating table holds a strong position in its own regard, and neither approaches the dialogue from a place of weakness. Each understands its interests and is ready to engage in discussions about them. It appears to be the first time in a very long while that Russia and the US are entering negotiations with such a mindset, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Ivan Timofeev. The negotiations…
Both Russia and Pakistan are significant in terms of their population size, but their social and economic profiles diverge sharply. Fortunately, in 2023 and 2024, the economic partnership between Pakistan and Russia moved beyond rhetoric into tangible progress. In October 2024, Moscow hosted the inaugural Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum, an event that drew over 70 Pakistani business leaders as well as representatives from more than 100 Russian companies. The…
The ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United States on the Ukrainian issue have rekindled hopes for a return to constructive dialogue on other fronts, particularly in the realm of strategic stability and nuclear arms control. To what extent are Moscow and Washington prepared for such dialogue? What political preconditions exist, and what parameters might it take? Ivan Timofeev, Programme Director of the Valdai Club, delves into these pressing questions.…
On March 31 – April 1, 2025, the Valdai Discussion Club, in partnership with the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, will host a Russian-Chinese conference in Shanghai titled “Space of Joint Development: Global and Eurasian Dimensions.” The event will bring together over 60 experts from Russia and China, many of whom are regular participants not only in bilateral expert meetings but also in regional conferences and…
Despite widespread anticipation of possible changes in US-Russia relations in the wake of Trump’s return to power, the shift has been more drastic and rapid than anyone could have imagined, writes Zhao Huasheng in the first installment of his two-part series analyzing the seismic changes in US foreign policy. Since the Ukrainian crisis, and especially since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2022, US-Russia relations have been on a downward spiral, a trajectory…
On February 24, 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions on the Ukrainian conflict. On February 17, Ukraine and Poland requested the resumption of the 11th UNGA Special Emergency Session, which had convened after the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022. It last met on the first anniversary of the conflict, in February 2023. In 2024, on the second anniversary, Ukraine did not request the resumption of the…
Iran currently faces a new wave of challenges that test its strategies. The return of Donald Trump to the White House, Israel's assertive posture in the Middle East, and slow progress on domestic reforms are significant hurdles, writes Daniyal Meshkin Ranjbar. As we reach the culmination of 46 years of sustained sanction pressures against the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is crucial to examine the country’s experiences and adaptive strategies throughout…
On March 10, a discussion on nuclear energy and the outcomes of the IAEA Board of Governors session took place at the Valdai Club in Moscow. The event was moderated by Anton Bespalov, Programme Director of the Valdai Club. Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to International Organizations in Vienna, emphasized that the rotation of IAEA observers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was conducted through Russian territory…
The list of liabilities, however, is equally significant. First and foremost, Ukraine has suffered enormous human losses. Hundreds of thousands of men have been killed or wounded. The loss of human capital has been exacerbated by the large number of refugees and émigrés, many of whom are reluctant to return. Given Ukraine’s already challenging demographic situation following the collapse of the USSR – marked by low birth rates and high…