At a time when Moscow’s relations with the West are continuing to deteriorate, and with the unresolved Ukrainian crisis looming large in the background, Russia is seeking to strengthen its partnerships with the Middle East and Asia, first and foremost with China. The recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which was held on June 18–20, in the city of Vladimir Putin’s birth, offered a new opportunity to showcase the Russian-Chinese friendship. While the forum was snubbed by Western leaders and many Western firms—but not the oil supermajors BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total, given their strategic ties with Russia—Moscow and …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation