Geoeconomics Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Sanctions at Sea: How Russia Uses African Flags to Protect Its Oil Exports

Russia is using African shipping registries to keep its “shadow fleet” operating and continue exporting oil despite U.S. sanctions. What once appeared to be occasional sanctions-evasion tactics has evolved into…

March 18, 2026Africa, Russia, shadow fleet

Corruption Economy Energy Geoeconomics Governance

Slovakia’s Fico Government Demands Removal of Two Russian Oligarchs from EU Sanctions

On 12 March 2026, media reported that Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár, speaking during a hearing of the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs, acknowledged that Bratislava is attempting to remove two Russian oligarchs from…

March 16, 2026Russia, Sanctions, Slovakia

Economy Geoeconomics

The Greek Connection: How Shipowners Sustain Russia’s Shadow Oil Fleet

Greek Shipowners and Russia’s Shadow Fleet Greek shipowners launched a large-scale campaign to resell high-capacity tankers that had previously transported Russian cargoes. Nevertheless, major Greek shipping corporations continue to play…

March 12, 2026Greece, Russia, shadow fleet

Economy Geoeconomics

Russia’s Oil System on the Brink of Physical Collapse

Key Findings Russia’s oil sector has entered a phase of physical crisis, where the main constraints are no longer prices but storage and transportation capacity. A decline in seaborne exports below 3 million…

March 2, 2026Russia, Sanctions

Conflict Economy Geoeconomics

Maritime Boundary Dispute Between Ghana and Togo: Causes, History, Conflict Risk, Consequences, and Scenarios

Ghana has formally notified Togo that it will pursue international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve a longstanding dispute over their maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea. This move…

February 21, 2026Ghana, Togo

Geoeconomics Geopolitics Governance

Analysis: Why Viktor Orbán Is Framing the EU as a Greater Threat Than Russia — and What It Means

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has escalated his anti-EU rhetoric by claiming that Hungary should fear the European Union more than Russia, dismissing concerns about Vladimir Putin as “primitive and unserious.” He has portrayed upcoming parliamentary elections…

February 16, 2026EU, Hungary

Corruption Geoeconomics National Security

Paks II: Engineering Red Flags and the Political Economy of Nuclear Risk in Central Europe

The ceremonial launch of the first concrete pour for Unit 5 of the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant was staged with great pomp and, according to the plan of Prime Minister Viktor…

February 7, 2026Hungary, Rosatom

Geoeconomics

From Parliament to Parallel Trade: The AfD, Belarus, and the Mechanics of Sanctions Evasion

AfD lawmaker from Saxony Jörg Dornau, who is suspected of violating the ban on exporting goods to Belarus, was summoned for questioning, and searches were conducted at all properties he owns.…

February 5, 2026AfD, Belarus, Germany, Russia, Sanctions

Geoeconomics Geopolitics Intelligence ops Propaganda and Disinformation

Frexit Without Exit: How Anti-EU Movements Shape French Politics Without Winning Power

A march by supporters of France’s withdrawal from the European Union (“Frexit”) took place in central Paris. On February 2, 2026, more than a thousand people gathered in the French…

February 4, 2026EU, France, Russia

Geoeconomics National Security Warfare

China’s Hidden Role in Russia’s Missile War: Mapping the Electronics Supply Chain

China is becoming a party to the Russia–Ukraine conflict by increasing supplies of components to enterprises of Russia’s military-industrial complex, including those used in the production and modernization of missiles…

January 26, 2026China, Russia, Sanctions