Geopolitical stories by Dr. Katja Banik.
Many people do not realize how lucky we all are to be living in these times of change and upheaval – so, let’s make something of it!
„Schönheit ist überall ein gar willkommener Gast“ [1] (Goethe)
Russia with a reach: Peaceful grazing horses. Russia/Lithuania border near Rusnè.
(Summer 2023).
Multipolarity is a reality
One cycle comes to an end and a new cycle begins. The gravity of the world shifts, the old thinking, the old structures slowly disappear and...
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s written interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo, April 28, 2025
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s written interview with Brazilian newspaper O Globo, April 28, 2025
Question: Expanding trade among BRICS countries is one of the objectives for Brazil’s chairmanship in this group in 2025. What kind of opportunities does Russia see in terms of increasing the share of trade transactions in national currencies?
Sergey Lavrov: We are witnessing an accelerating trend...
Europe is now returning to its position as the main source of danger for all of humanity. But it does not mean that we in Russia should fence ourselves off from our Western neighbours and not pay them any attention
Europe has always been a source of concern for the rest of the world, from the time when the Greek pirates unleashed their aggression on the ancient civilisation of the Nile Valley to the latest attempts by Europeans to interfere in African affairs or behave aggressively in Ukraine....
The globalization of NATO will only largely occur at the level of high political rhetoric
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte concluded a two-day official visit to Japan—his first visit to the country since becoming the chief of the transatlantic military alliance in October. Among NATO's “Indo-Pacific partners,” Japan stands out as the biggest economy, the most generous defense spender and a country with an exceptional track record of close relationships with the transatlantic alliance...
Making maritime security a core element of national strategy is pivotal as the Indian Ocean is not just a theater of competition but a major lifeline for Pakistan’s economic and strategic interests
In contemporary times, where security challenges surpass traditional boundaries, the world is increasingly shaped by non-traditional global threats including climate change, cyberattacks, and illicit trafficking. Notwithstanding, conventional power struggles remain deeply ingrained, mainly in the maritime...
The expansion in the Northern direction offered the nation a variety of unique opportunities, but it also created numerous challenges that other Europeans never confronted
Russia is a distinctly Nordic country. Its Arctic coastline stretches for twenty-four thousand kilometers, and almost two thirds of Russia’s territory is covered by permafrost. Among all Arctic states, Russia has by far the most numerous resident communities in the region in total exceeding two million people (approximately a...
The achieved results and existing limitations create an incentive for Washington and Moscow to discuss a potential peace. Nevertheless, both sides retain the material resources necessary to sustain the confrontation
The negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump marked a step toward resolving the Ukrainian conflict. However, the outcomes remain uncertain. A reversal could occur at any moment, given the multitude of unresolved, accumulated issues. The flawed legacy of the European security...
Israel risks repeating Iran's mistakes by opening a new front in Syria while having conflicts in multiple fronts
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza following Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" and the escalation of tensions on the Lebanese border after Israel targeted several Hezbollah leaders, Tel Aviv has begun hinting at the possibility of expanding its military operations into Syrian territory. This includes the potential occupation of new areas and even advancing toward Damascus. While...
Restarting the architecture of missile and nuclear arms control in a Russian-American or broader format appears highly improbable
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...
Paradoxically, despite Britain’s exit from the European Union, she now finds herself playing a leading role in European security
Britain’s traditionally hostile attitude towards Russia—starting at least as early as 1791, when Prime Minister Pitt the Younger lambasted Russia for wishing to carve up the Ottoman Empire, continuing with the Crimean War and then the Great Game—has again come to the fore with the Ukrainian conflict. Sir Keir Starmer must therefore be in a bit of a tangle, given the momentous...
