Open Dialogue Research Journal
lgaria-Radev-BrusselsB When EU leaders gathered in Brussels on 15 October, the conversation quickly settled on familiar themes — energy security, budget negotiations and relations with China. Most capitals stuck to the established script of diversification and long-term climate goals. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev cut through the rhetoric with a […]
This fact combines with Russia’s positive reputation in their eyes to explain why so many of the continent’s countries are nowadays eagerly expanding cooperation with it despite Western pressure. Moscow hosted the third Russia-Africa Summit this week, which has been held every couple of years since the inaugural one in […]
The conflict could freeze along the frontlines if the US coerces the EU and Ukraine into agreeing to the resumption of Russian energy imports through partially US-controlled pipelines while convincing Russia to agree to the deployment of European forces to Ukraine without the US’ Article 5 protection. Zelensky said that […]
Sub-Saharan Africa is growing a little faster than expected, and that is notable because the global background is hostile. In its semi-annual Africa Economic Update, published on Tuesday, the World Bank projected regional growth of 4.3% in 2026, up from 4.1% last year and 0.3 percentage point above its April […]
Russia could legally transfer ownership of its frozen assets to the US, which would then be returned to Russia in exchange for US stakes in its energy industry that could also deter Ukrainian attacks against it, but Trump will first have to obtain what would then be the US’ frozen […]
The Middle East’s strategic landscape is fracturing. As the US-led security architecture erodes, a volatile triangle emerges, defined by rivalry and exploitation. At its heart lies the turbulent Turkey-Israel relationship. For decades, it oscillated between cooperation and crisis. Today, it enters a more dangerous phase, and no actor benefits from […]
On 8 October Kirill Budanov spent about twenty hours in the Bulgarian capital. His meeting with Prime Minister Rumen Radev stayed confidential at Budanov’s request. The next day former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov posted a photo of the two of them. The government had to admit it. On 14 October […]
If even one of the major European governments turns over, Ukraine’s lifeline will be severed. Zelensky’s harsh words about US President Donald Trump was an emotional response after Zelensky deliberately thwarted Trump’s request that Ukraine not strike Russian refineries. Unfortunately Zelensky is making matters worse, and Ukraine’s future is now […]
Recent events in Ethiopia demonstrate how the middle powers of the region are trying to project their interests and use the emerging opportunities to destabilize their geopolitical opponents. On September 23, large–scale fighting began in Tigray, Akhmara and Afar provinces as the so-called Alliance for Survival began attacking government forces […]
Part I Slovakia’s increasingly unconventional foreign policy has attracted disproportionate attention within Europe. Prime Minister Robert Fico’s willingness to maintain dialogue with Moscow while remaining inside both the European Union and NATO has often been interpreted as evidence of ideological divergence from Brussels. Such explanations, however, overlook a more fundamental […]
Comments