National Security Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

U.S. Sanctions Lifted on Rosatom: The Case of Hungary’s Paks II Nuclear Power Plant

The Biden administration has quietly authorized a sanctions exemption for Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom to allow completion of Hungary’s Paks II nuclear power plant. This move, occurring amid ongoing Western sanctions on Russia…

June 30, 2025Hungary, Rosatom, Russia, Ukraine, USA

- Geopolitics National Security

INTELBRIEF: Russian Involvement in Iranian Strikes on U.S. Military Targets

Subject: Potential coordination or support by Russia in Iranian military actions targeting U.S. assetsRegion: Middle East, Eastern EuropeSources: Open-source intelligence, defense cooperation patterns, intercepted statements, historical precedents Key Assessment There is growing evidence and…

June 23, 2025

Geopolitics National Security Warfare

Fortress North: The Strategic Logic Behind Russia’s New Military Base Near Finland

Russia’s recent decision to build a new military base close to the Finnish border marks a deliberate escalation in its confrontation with NATO. This move—timed just after Finland joined NATO—signals…

June 20, 2025Finland, NATO, Russia

Geoeconomics Intelligence ops National Security

Africa’s New Overseers: Inside Russia’s Covert Gold Empire”

Russia’s involvement in building a gold refinery plant in Mali is not just an economic move — it’s a strategic maneuver involving sanctions evasion, geopolitical influence, and shadow financing of military operations in Africa and…

June 18, 2025gold, GRU, Russia, SVR, Wagner Group

Geopolitics Governance ideology National Security Propaganda and Disinformation

The Legal Illusion of Empire: Why Russia Deems the USSR’s Collapse Illegal and How It May Try to Reverse It

The Legal Illusion of Empire: Why Russia Deems the USSR’s Collapse Illegal and How It May Try to Reverse It Executive Summary The Russian Federation’s claims that the collapse of…

June 18, 2025Russia, USSR

Democracy Geopolitics Governance National Security

Somalia Deepens Ties With Russia: Strategic Motives and Global Implications

Somalia’s deepening ties with Russia are more than transactional; they reflect frustration with existing security frameworks and a global contest for influence in Africa. For Moscow, Somalia is both a…

June 14, 2025Russia, Somalia, USA

Geopolitics National Security Situation Reports

Sailing Without a Coast: Russia’s Role in Building Ethiopia’s Navy Staff and Its Regional Implications

In recent years, Ethiopia—despite being a landlocked country—has taken concrete steps toward re-establishing a naval force, an effort now receiving support from the Russian Federation. This cooperation reflects a convergence of strategic…

June 10, 2025Ethiopia, Russia

ecology Geoeconomics Geopolitics National Security

Hungary’s Sanctions Evasion Nexus: Economic Ties with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as a Backdoor for Russia

Hungary’s economic engagement with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan appears smooth on the surface, but it plays a deeper role in enabling Russia to circumvent Western sanctions. Both Central Asian nations formally condemned…

June 6, 2025EU, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Geoeconomics Geopolitics National Security

How Hungary’s Outreach to Central Asia Risks Undermining EU Sanctions on Russia

In its ongoing effort to choke off the Kremlin’s war machine, the European Union has levied unprecedented sanctions on Russia. But far from Brussels, a new triangle is quietly forming on…

June 5, 2025Hungary, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan

Conflict Geopolitics National Security

U.S. Response to Ukrainian UAV Strikes on Russian Airfields: Kellogg’s View, Strategic Implications, and Geopolitical Calculus

The Ukrainian UAV strikes on Russian airfields housing strategic bombers mark a significant evolution in the war’s trajectory, highlighting Kyiv’s capacity to reach deep into Russian territory. U.S. National Security…

June 4, 2025Russia, Ukraine, USA

National Security