The Multipolar World Order (yes, it's coming)

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Russia Eyes Domestic Produced Aircraft Exports To Saudi Arabia
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...-saudi-arabia/
Russia is looking to sell various commercial aircraft to Saudi Arabia, an aviation market expected to more than double in size by 2023. #RussiaSaudi #AviationTrade

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1943345165378482231

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...-saudi-arabia/

Russia Eyes Domestic Produced Aircraft Exports To Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is being considered as one of the potential export markets for Russian aviation industry products, according to Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov. Cooperation in the aviation industry was discussed during a meeting this week with Saudi Arabian Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar al-Khorayef.

Alikhanov said “For now, we are primarily looking at the market with regard to aircraft that are already undergoing certification, as well as small aircraft being developed by the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UCAP] which could also find their place in this market.”

Russia is currently preparing to certify fully import-substituted versions of the MC-21 and SJ-100 aircraft, with all procedures planned for completion by the end of 2025. These are being marketed as alternatives to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Both are in demand in Russia due to the aircraft balance of range, capacity and passengers’ comfort.

Simultaneously, development is underway on regional aircraft to replace the outdated An-2, in particular the light multipurpose aircraft LMS-901 Baikal by JSC UCAP, with the first deliveries of Baikal aircraft expected by late 2026.

The Saudi Arabian aviation market is experiencing substantial growth, with a projected market size of US$11.92 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.60% between 2025 and 2033, according to the research agency the IMARC Group. This growth is driven by national reforms, government investments in airport infrastructure, and increasing tourism. The market is also seeing expansion in low-cost carriers and a focus on sustainability. Saudi Arabia currently has a total of 29 airports, including 12 international airports, 3 regional airports and 14 domestic airports.

Saudi passenger growth is expected to reach 330 million annually by 2030, up from 2024’s 128 million, with a doubling of cargo capacity to 4.5 million tons during the same period. Saudi Arabian Airlines plan to place orders for more than 100 aircraft in the next five years, while the budget airline Flyadeal aims to expand its fleet from 44 to 100 aircraft by 2030.

Further Reading

Permission Granted For Direct Russia–Saudi Arabia Flights From August

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BRICS Demand for Russian Oil Exceeds Supply Capabilities
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/brics...-capabilities/

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1942318625328881799

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/brics...-capabilities/

BRICS Demand for Russian Oil Exceeds Supply Capabilities

July 3, 2025 BRICS, Energy, Exports, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia
The BRICS countries are demonstrating a growing interest in Russian energy resources, including oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal, with demand for oil exceeding available volumes, most of which have already been contracted, according to Roman Marshavin, Russia’s Deputy Energy Minister.

He stated that “BRICS partners are already openly declaring their interest in Russian energy resources, including projects that are under Western sanctions. These include LNG, oil, petroleum products, and coal. For oil, we are faced with a situation where demand exceeds available volumes—everything has been contracted, and there are few new available volumes. We do not see a lack of demand.”

In addition to energy supplies, BRICS partners are also interested in the Russian experience of trading under sanctions, Marshavin explained, saying that since 2022, Russia has been able not only to reorient exports but also to maintain its volumes. He added, “In this regard, Russia is ready to offer its assistance to create a joint economic infrastructure. If we create a system that is invulnerable to external influence, and we have our own payment mechanisms and logistics, then there will be no need for US dollars and Western ratings.”

The annual BRICS summit takes place on July 6/7 in Rio de Janeiro.

Further Reading

BRICS Energy Alliance Launches Petro-Yuan Contracts to Minimize US Dollar Usage

[Ravenlocke]

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Irtysh River To Become Cross-Border Russia-Kazakhstan Logistics Route
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/irtys...gistics-route/
The 4,258km long Irtysh River is to be developed as a transport and logistics alternative to carrying cargo between Russia, Kazakhstan and China to alleviate pressures on road and rail demand. #RussiaKazakhstan #CrossBorderTrade #KazakhstanChina

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1942216045902586185

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/irtys...gistics-route/

Irtysh River To Become Cross-Border Russia-Kazakhstan Logistics Route

July 7, 2025 Asia, China, Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union, Infrastructure, Logistics & Transport, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia
The Irtysh River should become an international logistics route for access to Kazakhstan and China, according to Dmitry Ushakov, the Acting Governor of the Omsk region. He said that cargo transport development along the river can connect several Russian regions and provide access to the Northern Sea Route.

Ushakov said that “The Irtysh River should return to the economic agenda as the most important logistics route not only on a regional but also an international scale. The river could fully connect the northern regions of Russia – these are, first of all, the regions near the Ob-Irtysh basin, the inland waterways are the Omsk, Tyumen regions, Khanty-Mansiysk, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Area and further to Kazakhstan and China.”

The Irtysh River is approximately 4,248 km long, with a substantial portion of around 3,784 km being navigable, from the downstream end of the Ust-Kamenogorsk hydroelectric power station to its mouth where it flows into the Ob River. That compares with Europe’s largest river, the Danube, at a navigable length of 2,415 km.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...Irtysh-Map.jpg

Ushakov noted that currently most of the goods are transported by road and rail, which is why the roads are significantly overloaded. “There is a problem of overloading both the highways and the Trans-Siberian Railway. And hence the increase in delivery time, the increase in costs and the burden on infrastructure. The revival of the Irtysh River as a major transport artery and economic unity with our neighbouring countries is an ambitious task. It is strategically important to use the Irtysh River not only in the northern, but also in the southern direction to access the Arctic route and the Northern Sea Route, which integrates the Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system.”

In September last year, Rosmorrechflot, Russia’s inland waterways management agency, announced that it was planning to build a large river hub in the Omsk Region to develop freight transportation along the Irtysh River. The logistics centre will be established on the basis of the Omsk River Port, which is located near the Trans-Siberian railway, which will allow it to be used to organise multimodal chains of goods delivery.

Kazakhstan and China are also interested in reviving active navigation along the river. In May, representatives of the two countries discussed the creation of a multimodal transit corridor “Russia-Kazakhstan-China“ which included the Irtysh River. According to Kazakh authorities, up to 2.5 million tonnes of cargo per year can be redirected to Irtysh River transport from road and rail.

Further Reading

Western Siberian River Traffic Growing 20-25% As Russia’s River Logistics Boom

[Ravenlocke]

Posting this report here, as it sheds light about why Russia recognizes the current Afghanistan government, The Taliban.

Russia Officially Recognizes The Taliban As Afghanistan’s Legitimate Government
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...te-government/
The Taliban has been officially recognised by Russia as the legitimate government for Afghanistan. #RussiaAfghan #TalibanRecognition #AfghanistanDiplomacy

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1941523559584760028

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...te-government/

Russia Officially Recognizes The Taliban As Afghanistan’s Legitimate Government
July 5, 2025 Asia, Investment, Regulatory, Security, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia
Moscow has officially recognized the Taliban in Afghanistan, becoming the first major power to establish formal diplomatic ties with the Islamic government. The Russian Supreme Court had previously removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations in April this year, effectively legalizing its activities for the first time since the designation in 2003.

The Taliban movement returned to power in August 2021 following a chaotic withdrawal by US and NATO forces and renamed the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko formally accepted the credentials of Afghanistan’s newly appointed ambassador to Moscow, Ghulam Hassan, a step seen as establishing diplomatic ties. The Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, also stated this had occurred.

According to media reports, the black-and-white Taliban flag was raised over the Afghan embassy in Moscow—the first flag to fly there since 2021. The Taliban banned the country’s previous black, red, and green tricolor after retaking power.

Russia’s ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, said that the decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was made by President Vladimir Putin on the recommendation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Zhirnov said Russia was also the first to recognize Afghanistan’s independence over a century ago. These steps, he added, show Moscow’s “genuine desire to build a full-fledged partnership with Afghanistan” and reflect a friendly stance toward the Afghan people.

Although the Taliban government has not been officially recognized by most of the international community, several Central Asian states have recently renewed ties with Kabul. Kazakhstan removed the group from its terrorist list in June 2024, followed by Kyrgyzstan in September. Turkmenistan has resumed cooperation through the TAPI gas pipeline project, and Uzbekistan signed several joint agreements with Kabul in August 2024.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to Qatar also stated that Russia’s decision had created “opportunities for joint work” and urged other countries to follow Moscow’s example.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...nistan-Map.jpg

Afghanistan is engaged in various regional and bilateral trade agreements to improve its economic integration. Key memberships include the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), facilitating trade with neighboring South Asian countries, and bilateral agreements with Pakistan, China, Iran, and India. Notably, the Afghanistan–Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) allows Afghanistan to import goods duty-free through Pakistani seaports, though its implementation has faced challenges. The Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (ECOTA) also aims to promote regional trade.

In October 2024, China announced it would offer Afghanistan zero-tariff treatment for all Afghan exports, further strengthening their trade ties. Afghanistan has significant mineral reserves yet little infrastructure to extract them, with Russia and China interested in this potential; however, the security situation remains tense.

The proposed Uzbekistan-Afghan-Pakistan railway would also help with Afghani imports and exports and could become, if realized, a key Russian and Central Asian route through to South Asia.

With a population of approximately 42.6 million, Afghanistan has a GDP (PPP) of around US$88.38 billion, with a GDP growth rate of 2.3%. The GDP (PPP) per capita currently stands at US$1,365.

Afghanistan’s bilateral trade with Russia has shown growth, increasing from approximately US$86.6 million in 2021 to US$170 million in 2022 and US$1 billion in 2023. Ongoing trends suggest a positive trajectory, with expectations to increase trade turnover to US$3 billion by 2025 and US$10 billion by 2030. There have also been recent moves to use each other’s currencies in bilateral trade.

Further Reading

Russia to Assist Afghanistan Re-Enter International Community, Develop Regional Trade

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Permission Granted For Direct Russia–Saudi Arabia Flights From August
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/permi...s-from-august/
Direct flights are to be introduced between Riyadh and Moscow, with Flynas starting the route from August. #RussiaSaudi #Aviation #DirectFlights

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1941520076592803996

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/permi...s-from-august/

Permission Granted For Direct Russia–Saudi Arabia Flights From August

July 5, 2025 Infrastructure, Logistics & Transport, Middle East, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency has issued a permit to Saudi Arabia’s Flynas airline to perform regular flights between Riyadh and Moscow’s Vnukovo airport. The airline can perform four flights per week, from August 1 to the end of the current spring-summer navigation (October 25), using Airbus A320/330 aircraft. At present, there are no direct flights between the two capitals.

Flynas, is a privately owned Saudi low-cost airline, operating more than 1,500 flights per week, which serve more than 70 domestic and international destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...rabia-Map-.jpg

With a population of approximately 37.47 million, Saudi Arabia has a GDP (PPP) of US$2.354 trillion, a GDP per capita (PPP) of US$70,333, and a projected GDP growth rate of 2.8% for 2025.

Trade relations with Russia are strengthening, with bilateral trade rising from US$2.2 billion in 2021 to an estimated US$4 billion in 2024, driven by increasing cooperation in energy, agriculture, and technology. Russian investors are making inroads into Saudi Arabia’s retail, agricultural, and halal markets, while Saudi Arabians are amongst the top users of Russia’s e-visa program.

Further Reading

Russia–Gulf Cooperation Council Trade & Relations: Update

[Ravenlocke]

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Colombia Joins BRICS New Development Bank
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/colom...elopment-bank/
Colombia has joined the BRICS New Development Bank to access infrastructure loans as it hedges against US tariff threats and investment potential through its recent joining with China's Belt & Road Initiative. #ColombiaBRICS #BRICS #Columbia

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1938276716419698689

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/colom...elopment-bank/

Colombia Joins BRICS New Development Bank
June 26, 2025 BRICS, Economy, Exports, Finance, Imports, Investment, Latin America, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia
Colombia has confirmed it has joined the New Development Bank (NDB), the financial investment arm of the BRICS group. Colombia had requested membership in the NDB in May of this year, amid tensions with the United States over President Trump’s tariff war and Colombia’s joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Colombia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laura Sarabia, said, “I welcome the news, which transcends financial matters and broadens our horizons. Colombia officially joins the BRICS bank led by Dilma Rousseff following the request made by President Gustavo Petro in Shanghai. We continue forging new paths toward opportunities for the country.”

However, although Colombia can access resources and financing for diverse projects financed by BRICS, it is not a member of the BRICS bloc itself. In this regard, Colombia’s relationship with the BRICS bank will mirror the one it currently has with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

Since Donald Trump’s arrival as the U.S. President, the Colombian government has emphasized the need to diversify its trade alliances. This shift responds to the isolationist stance of the United States, Colombia’s traditional commercial partner. Relations between Presidents Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro are not positive, with Colombia facing additional tariffs on exports to the US.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...lombia-Map.jpg

The NDB aims to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar in international financing and promote local currencies in loans. In a context of increasing multipolarity, the BRICS—representing nearly 32% of global GDP and over 40% of the planet’s population—are positioning themselves as a counterweight to the traditional financial order.

With Colombia’s entry into this entity, the expansion of the bloc and its bank could reinforce this trend, boosting the Global South’s influence in the world economy.

With a population of approximately 52.9 million, Colombia’s GDP (PPP) stands at around US$1.130 trillion, and its GDP per capita (PPP) is US$20,470. The country’s GDP growth for 2025 is projected to be 2.0%.

Last year, Colombia-Russian bilateral trade reached about US$450 million. Colombia exported agricultural products, including beef (the Russian market is the largest in the world for Colombian beef), tropical fruits, coffee, cocoa, and flowers. Recently, chocolate and textiles have become an important part of Colombia’s exports to Russia, which mainly exports chemical products (primarily fertilizers, which account for three-quarters of the total trade volume), metals and metal products, various equipment and machinery, and petroleum products to Colombia.

[Ravenlocke]

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Russia Preparing For Key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads Of State Meetings
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...tate-meetings/
The Foreign Ministers of China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been meeting in Tianjin, China, to discuss the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of State summit at the end of August. President Putin will be attending. The Ministers will also have discussed US President Trump's latest sanctions threats - set to take effect around the start of the SCO summit. #SCO2025 #TianjinSCO

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1945126980636086697

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...tate-meetings/

Russia Preparing For Key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads Of State Meetings

July 15, 2025 China, Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union, India, Infrastructure, Middle East, Security, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, is taking part in a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin, China. Foreign Ministers of all the SCO members are present. These meetings are focused on preparations for the SCO Heads of State Council summit, also in Tianjin, which is to take place from August 31 to September 1. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is expected to attend.

That main programme will be followed by a “SCO Plus” summit, and a massive Chinese military parade in Beijing on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Asia.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian security, humanitarian and trade group. It was originally established in 2001 to deal with the issue of American involvement in Afghanistan; but has now expanded its remit to cover a far wider geopolitical remit. Full members include Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observers, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and the UAE are dialogue partners.

Also taking place will be events involving senior officials from other international and regional organisations, which will showcase the SCO’s agenda for the countries of the Global South and the Global East. These can be expected to include representatives from the BRICS countries, Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Eurasian Economic Union amongst others.

The participants will discuss ways to advance the organisation and exchange views on regional and international priorities.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...07/SCO-map.jpg


China currently holds the SCO chairmanship and is in a decisive phase, with Russia providing strong support to China’s efforts to implement its extensive action plans. The respective foreign ministry officials take part in high-level and expert meetings, various forums, and workshops, with numerous bilateral meetings between Ministers also taking place. Sergey Lavrov for example held meetings with China’s Wang Yi on Monday. Lavrov has also met with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.

Foreign ministers will discuss draft documents and resolutions to be submitted to their Heads of State for consideration for inclusion at the main September meetings.

The common vision for the further evolution of the SCO will be reflected in the Development Strategy to 2035. The outcomes of implementing a similar document, which was adopted at the SCO summit in Ufa in 2015, were analysed when working on the draft. That will be released at the Heads of State event.

Attending SCO member ministries and agencies are also preparing statements and documents on artificial intelligence, green industry, investment cooperation, and the digital economy. They are discussing the advances made in implementing the SCO foreign ministers’ proposals on improving the SCO’s activities, which were approved at last year’s summit. Expert consultations are underway on a draft agreement on creating an All-Purpose Centre for Countering Security Challenges and Threats that was put together by Russia in conjunction with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Tajikistan’s project on creating an Anti-Drug Centre.

Initiatives in other areas are also being developed. The approval at the summit of the 2026-2030 Programme of Cooperation in Countering Extremist Ideology within the SCO region (the document was prepared by the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) is an important step in ensuring security.

The Ministers have also been holding a series of discussions on global and regional issues. The foreign ministers will exchange views on ongoing developments in the Middle East, and the state of affairs in the aftermath of the recent strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran. They will discuss Afghanistan-related matters as well. US President Donald Trump’s threat to issue secondary, 100% sanctions on countries trading with Russia – with many of them being SCO members – will also have been discussed.

[Ravenlocke]

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🇨🇳 SCO Foreign Ministers meet today in Tianjin ahead of the September 1 summit. The bloc—10 members, 40% of humanity, 30% of global GDP—advances without Western approval.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1945006194461921674

[Ravenlocke]

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Delegations from SCO member states arrived in Tianjin from Beijing by high-speed train. Today, the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting will take place here, along with numerous bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

— Maria Zakharova

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1944985403662237744

[Ravenlocke]

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 On July 15 in Beijing, as part of his participation in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Lavrov conveyed to the Chinese leader friendly greetings and best wishes from President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

The two sides discussed a range of bilateral political contacts at the highest and high levels, including preparations for the Russian President’s upcoming visit to China to attend the SCO summit and the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over militarist Japan.

The Russian side also raised several pressing issues on the international and regional agenda.

President Xi Jinping welcomed the planned visit of the Russian leader, with whom he shares a long-standing and warm friendship.

Xi gave a high assessment of the current state of bilateral relations and reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1944986185476268513

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🇮🇷 Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the SCO is expanding its global influence and moving beyond a regional framework. He praised the bloc’s support for Iran following Israeli aggression.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1945052970166460711

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🇮🇷🇨🇳 Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. All efforts are focused on preparations for a key event, namely, the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council (HSC) in Tianjin on September 1, followed by a SCO Plus summit.

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1944996323712798793

[Ravenlocke]

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🇪🇬🇨🇳 Cairo and Beijing just scrapped the dollar and SWIFT—opting for yuan trade and China’s CIPS. Their central banks signed three deals to boost yuan use, link payment systems, and expand digital ties. Talks covered currency swaps, Panda bonds, and banking integration.

UnionPay expands in Egypt, and yuan anchors trade zones. In a clear sign of the emerging post-Western world, Egypt and China will now settle transactions in yuan—ditching the dollar and deepening strategic financial alignment

https://x.com/apocalypseos/status/1944940389263401435

[Ravenlocke]

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Russia, India, Bilateral Relations: July 15, 2025 Update
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...y-2025-update/
The Indian and Russian Foreign Ministers have met in Tianjin, China. India and Russia are both full members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Their meeting was on the sidelines of the SCO preparations for the annual Heads of State summit which Modi, Putin and Xi Jinping will all be attending, along with other SCO leaders, at the end of August. We discuss this and the latest bilateral talks.

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1945134769521746066

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...y-2025-update/

Russia, India, Bilateral Relations: July 2025 Update

July 15, 2025 BRICS, Eurasian Economic Union, India, Security, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia


The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, met with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Tianjin, China. The two foreign ministers engaged in a comprehensive discussion on pivotal bilateral and international issues, as well as the forthcoming schedule of diplomatic engagements. They reiterated their commitment to further strengthening the multifaceted Russia-India special and privileged strategic partnership at all levels. Particular focus was also given to the situation around Ukraine and the ongoing developments in the Middle East.

Both sides agreed to continue to align their strategies for Russia-India cooperation within key multilateral frameworks, and discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international security issues. Both Russia and India are full members of the BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. They are also involved in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

In 2024, Russia and India achieved a record bilateral trade turnover of US$70.6 billion, marking a 9.2% increase compared to 2023, according to Sberbank. Russian exports to India reached US$65.7 billion, driven by agricultural products, while Indian exports to Russia were US$4.9 billion. This surge in trade is partly attributed to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and a diversification of imports, alongside a strategic partnership.

US Senator Linday Graham has been highly critical of India as part of his campaign to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. Earlier this week, he described India as ‘despicable’ for continuing to purchase Russian gas and then re-sell it. Graham also singled our China and Brazil for secondary sanctions should these take effect ‘within 50 days’.

The combined international dollar purchasing value of China, India and Brazil in GDP terms is US$60 trillion, slightly more than double the United States value of US$29 trillion. Should the sanctions take effect, they will come into operation at about the time of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation heads of state summit, also to be held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. China’s President Xi Jinping will host the event, with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Modi all attending together with other SCO members heads of state. A SCO-Plus event is also to be held, as is a huge Chinese military parade on September 3 to mark the end of World War II in Asia.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian security, humanitarian and trade group. It was originally established in 2001 to deal with the issue of American involvement in Afghanistan; but has now expanded its remit to cover a far wider geopolitical remit. Full members include Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observers, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and the UAE are dialogue partners.

Further Reading

Russia Preparing For Key Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads Of State Meetings

[Ravenlocke]

Russia’s Pivot to Asia asks,

Do you think Russia-friendly countries were surprised by Trump's 100% secondary sanctions in 50 days time? The foreign ministers of Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were all meeting in Tianjin to hold discussions about the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Heads of State summit set to take place August 31-September 1. They're well prepared.

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1945054966517039137

[Ravenlocke]

From TASS,

Moscow would like to understand what US President Donald Trump meant by allocating 50 days to reach a settlement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, reiterating that the US leader had repeatedly set various deadlines:
https://vk.cc/cNIthm

https://x.com/tassagency_en/status/1945107142643486850

https://tass.com/politics/1989711?ut...m_social_share

Russia seeks clarity on Trump’s 50-day Ukraine deadline — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat pointed to earlier deadlines of 24 hours and of 100 days

TIANJIN /China/, July 15. /TASS/. Moscow would like to understand what US President Donald Trump meant by allocating 50 days to reach a settlement on Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, reiterating that the US leader had repeatedly set various deadlines.

"Certainly, we would like to understand what is behind this statement about 50 days. Earlier, there were also the deadlines of 24 hours and of 100 days, we’ve seen it all and really would like to understand the motivation of the US president," the top Russian diplomat told a news conference after the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries in China’s Tianjin.

Lavrov noted enormous pressure on Trump. "It is clear that he is under enormous, I would say, shameless pressure by the European Union and NATO’s current leadership which recklessly supports Zelensky’s demands and continues to flood it with modern weapons, including offensive ones, at the expense of greater and greater damage to taxpayers in Western countries."

The Russian foreign minister emphasized that Russia "never builds its policy course to harm national interests or the country’s security." "And the special military operation is aimed precisely to eradicate those threats that were being created by the North Atlantic Alliance directly on our borders not for just one day or one year but for decades," he pointed out. Lavrov reiterated that Moscow had repeatedly voiced its concerns and Russian President Vladimir Putin "has dedicated countless speeches to this matter." "And, unfortunately, his voice was not heard," the top Russian diplomat stated.

In his opinion, this state of affairs merely confirms what the Russian head of state recently said in one of the interviews about the evolution of perception of relations with the West. "When at first it appeared that removing ideological differences is sufficient to make things right and then it turned out that ideology is not the issue but, rather, that the West, regardless of ideology of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, or post-Soviet Russia, has always been motivated by a single goal - geopolitically containing, suppressing or even directly eliminating Russia militarily, as history repeatedly demonstrated," Lavrov explained.

On July 14, Trump made a scheduled statement on the Ukrainian settlement. In the presence of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the US leader said that he was "disappointed" in Russia and its president as well as announced his decision to continue supplying weapons and military hardware to the Kiev regime if Europe foots the bill with NATO coordination.

Additionally, Trump said that the US will impose about 100% import tariffs on Russia and its trade partners if within 50 days Moscow and Washington do not reach an agreement on the Ukrainian settlement.

[Ravenlocke]

🔴 #LIVE: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks and answers to media questions following Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Ministerial meeting.
(Dubbed with English translation.)

https://x.com/mfa_russia/status/1945082936866312259

[Ravenlocke]

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Russia Looking To Export High-Speed Rail Technology To The Commonwealth Of Independent States: Implications
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...-implications/
Russia is looking to its own High-Speed Rail development with an eye on targeting the CIS+ countries as potential HSR export markets as the INSTC rail network develops. #RussiaExport #INSTC #RailwayTechnology

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1934658160926838895

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russi...-implications/

Russia Looking To Export High-Speed Rail Technology To The Commonwealth Of Independent States: Implications

June 16, 2025 China, Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union, Exports, India, Infrastructure, Investment, Logistics & Transport, Russia's Belt & Road By Russia's Pivot to Asia

Foreign transport companies, including those from the CIS countries, are showing great interest in studying Russia’s approaches to building the country’s first high-speed railway (HSR), according to Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.

Russia is preparing to build an HSR between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Starovit said that “The subject of the high-speed railway is a landmark event. Our foreign colleagues – friendly countries, the CIS – are very interested in studying our approaches.”

Starovoit noted that discussions with interested parties included timely financing, financial model implementation, technical issues with component manufacturers, rolling stock, and the progress of accompanying road highway construction.

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/wp-co...06/CIA-Map.jpg

The first high-speed railway in Russia will connect St. Petersburg and Moscow and is designed for passenger traffic. It will pass through six Russian regions: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod, Tver, and Moscow regions. Trains will run every 15 minutes. By 2030, passenger traffic between St. Petersburg and Moscow will amount to about 23 million people per year.

According to the Russian government timeframes, the design and construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed highway is scheduled for 2024-2028, and commissioning – for the second quarter of 2028.

CIS Nations Railway Network

The CIS effectively now includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and has railway networks as follows:

Commonwealth of Independent States 2025: Railway Network Length

Country Rail Network (km)
Armenia 845
Azerbaijan 2,932
Belarus 5,312
Kazakhstan 16,636
Kyrgyzstan 424
Russia 105,000
Tajikistan 680
Uzbekistan 4,669

Total: 136,498


CIS+ Expansion

The above data notwithstanding, most of these countries are actively undergoing expansion of their rail networks. This is largely because Western sanctions upon Russia have driven the huge Russian market – and its geographical landmass – to markets in the east. The CIS countries wish to take full geographical advantage of this and are subsequently also investing in expanding their networks.

The CIS countries are also expanding beyond their own borders to engage in more Eurasian rail connectivity as well. This includes substantial projects such as better connectivity with China, as well as with the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC) leading to additional markets and rail networks in the Middle East, as well as to South Asia. These will specifically link to other important national rail networks as follows:

Country Rail Network (km)
Iran 16,998
Pakistan 7,791
India 69,512
China 159,000

These countries are also expanding their rail networks, most notably Pakistan, under China’s Belt & Road Initiative. Further integration will occur when the proposed Trans-Afghan railway (573km) is eventually bought into play. Feasibility studies remain ongoing.

High Speed Rail Developments


High-Speed Rail is not a complete solution for all of the CIS and related networks. However, it will be used as fast-track movement between specific cities. Although Russia has yet to complete its own HSR, the technology is well known and tested – mainly in China, as at the end of 2024 had 48,000km of HSR tracks and rolling stock in use. That compares with Japan’s 2,951km. In this comparison it can be seen that Russia – and the CIS – both of which share significant borders with China – are somewhat behind in HSR development.

However, converting a regular rail line to a high-speed rail (HSR) line is a complex and expensive process, requiring significant infrastructure upgrades and changes to operating conditions. It is not as simple as just swapping out newer, faster trains, but it is possible to upgrade existing lines to accommodate higher speeds, though the extent and costs vary. The main economic pointer is speed of travel being reflected as a cost saving.

In this regard, while China has become a world leader in HSR technologies and implementation, Russia is looking to its own experience in building its own HSR as a platform to potentially sell the technology into the CIS and beyond. China already does this as part of its Belt & Road Initiative, and has built HSR networks in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye

As can be seen from the description of the CIS+ existing rail networks, there is a huge market to develop. If Russia can provide solutions – especially in finance and to some extent security – a CIS HSR development plan to alleviate city to city and port to city logistics appears to be a project that will continue well into the next decade and beyond.

[Ravenlocke]

Vietnam Becomes A BRICS Partner Country
https://russiaspivottoasia.com/vietn...rtner-country/
Vietnam has officially become a BRICS Partner country. We discuss the implications and Vietnam's emerging trade trends and dynamics with Russia. #Vietnam #BRICS

https://x.com/RussiasPivot/status/1933908698037948510

https://russiaspivottoasia.com/vietn...rtner-country/

Vietnam Becomes A BRICS Partner Country

June 14, 2025 Asia, BRICS, Exports, Imports, Trade By Russia's Pivot to Asia

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Vietnam has become a BRICS partner country, saying, “The Brazilian government announces Vietnam’s official accession as a partner country.” Brazil is the 2025 Chair of the BRICS group.

According to the ministry, Vietnam has become the association’s 10th partner, and stated that the country “shares with BRICS members a commitment to a more inclusive and representative international order.” With a population of nearly 100 million people and a rapidly developing economy that is firmly integrated into global value chains, Vietnam is an important player in Asia.”

Brazil took over the BRICS presidency from Russia on January 1. At the group’s summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24, it was decided to create a category of partner countries. The first partners were Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Indonesia was also initially named as a BRICS partner, however on January 6, Brazilian authorities announced that the country had become a full member of the group. On January 17, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced that Nigeria had become a BRICS partner.

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Vietnam lies on Southeast Asia’s eastern seaboard, allowing it to act as a gateway to ASEAN for Russian products via Russia’s Far Eastern Ports and as a conduit for ASEAN products to access Russia. Vietnam also has a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, making it something of an Asian pioneer in the region.

Russia’s trade with Vietnam reached US$7.1 billion in 2021, then experienced a dip as the logistics issues created by Western sanctions hit the bilateral trade growth. Bilateral trade in 2023 essentially halved to about US$3.6 billion. However, this is now rebounding; in 2024, bilateral trade reached US$4.59 billion, a 26.4% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Vietnam Economic Times. Vietnam’s exports to Russia were US$2.34 billion, up 34.5%, while imports were US$2.25 billion, up 19%.

This positive trend appears to be continuing. This year, Vietnamese tuna exports, for example,increased by 15% in Q1, while Russian exports of food to Vietnam have increased 27% in 5M 2025.

Russia is also a critical exporter of modern weaponry to Vietnam, making the country the largest buyer of Russian weapons (around 70% of the country’s arms come from Russia) in Southeast Asia. Vietnam exports a range of goods to Russia, including electronics, textiles, and agricultural products such as coffee, pepper, seafood, and footwear. Vietnamese frozen prawns, for example, are now commonly available in Russia. The Russian tourism flow to Vietnam is also increasing.

Russia is also an investor in Vietnam and had 123 projects valued at up to US$1 billion at the end of 2023. Most of the Russian investments are focused on natural resource extraction and can be expected to grow. There are also expectations that Russia’s nuclear industry may invest in the country, as Vietnam’s fast-growing economy requires more energy.

In contrast, Vietnam has invested in 17 projects in Russia with a total worth of some US$1.63 billion (which is 7% of all outbound Vietnamese investment). The Vietnamese dairy industry is a large investor in Russia, with the Vietnamese company TH-True Milk, the largest modern manufacturer of dairy and agricultural products in the country, announcing plans to invest around $2.7 billion in the Russian economy. This involves the construction of farms and processing facilities in the Moscow, Kaluga, and Tyumen regions; Bashkiria; and Primorsky Krai by the end of 2025. Vietnam’s per capita milk consumption is growing, with the dairy market expected to grow from 159.6 kilotons in 2021 to 375.1 kilotons by 2030.

Another area of potential Russian investments in Vietnam is cybersecurity services. Russian technologies from large companies such as Kaspersky Lab and Rostelecom, or lesser-known Russian IT firms that are not subject to Western sanctions, can become an important auxiliary tool for Vietnam.

One of the most prominent areas of economic cooperation between Russia and Vietnam is in the oil and gas sector. Companies like Gazprom and Rosneft from Russia have collaborated with PetroVietnam on several projects, both within Vietnam and in Russia.

A notable collaboration between the two countries was the joint venture between Kamaz and Vinamotor to produce Kamaz trucks in Vietnam. Russian companies have also shown interest in developing Vietnam’s railway infrastructure. Past projects have included modernizing the railway line connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Presently Russia and Vietnam are also interested in developing seaborne connectivity, and the natural geographic area for this is Russia’s Far East. This success limits the deficiencies the two countries have historically had—geographic constraints that precluded closer and quicker trade relations and that, with better logistics services, have now become robust. In 2024, new multimodal logistics routes were launched from Vladivostok’s ports, with the Vietnamese port of Ho Chi Minh City becoming a significant transport hub for Russian companies for further deliveries to other countries in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN markets in particular.

In January 2025, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin paid an official visit to Vietnam, following which the parties agreed to develop rail and sea transport links, which will increase trade turnover and reduce logistics costs. Expanding logistics capabilities, modernising infrastructure and simplifying customs procedures will significantly increase supply volumes and improve the competitiveness of products in the markets of both countries.

[Ravenlocke]

From Douglas McGregor,

Some countries are now doing business with each other in their own currency.

Japan and China, Russia and China, Iran and China, it doesn't matter.

They are getting away from the dollar and America is being isolated!


https://x.com/DougAMacgregor/status/1945278504100044864

[Ravenlocke]

UAE and an MOU (memorandum of understanding), with China

Text:
🚨BREAKING: China and UAE have signed the largest ever deal of UAE purchasing 350 E20 eVTOL aircraft worth 1 BILLION U.S. dollars.

https://x.com/TheDailyCPEC/status/1945450553066045623

So what is the E20 eVTOL,


Text:

A UAE company signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) maker on Wednesday in east China's Shanghai to purchase 350 E20 eVTOL aircraft worth $1 billion, marking China's largest single intent order for eVTOLs to date.

https://x.com/PDChina/status/1945392968019411107

Text:

Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer Tcab Tech announced today it received an order from UAE company Autocraft for 350 E20s, its flagship model. The pair will jointly expand in the Middle Eastern and North African eVTOL air travel market, especially the low altitude segment.

https://x.com/yicaichina/status/1945386079114145792