Russia Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

The Politicization of U.S. Intelligence: History, Causes, and Implications

The removal of a senior CIA officer by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), alongside the revocation of classified access for 36 current and former officers, highlights a longstanding…

August 22, 2025CIA, DNI, Russia, USA

Conflict Geopolitics Peacekeeping

Russia’s Pressure on Armenia After the Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Breakthrough and Naryshkin’s Yerevan Overtures

Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a U.S.-brokered peace deal on August 8, 2025, with Washington and Brussels framing it as a milestone that still requires formal signing and ratification. Moscow reads this as a…

August 21, 2025Armenia, Azerbaijan, Naryshkin, Russia, SVR, USA

Conflict National Security

Russia Circumvents Sanctions Through Chinese Marketplaces

Despite sweeping international sanctions, Russia continues to secure critical equipment for its defense industry by exploiting alternative supply channels. A growing share of this trade flows through Chinese e-commerce platforms,…

August 20, 2025China, Russia, Sanctions

Geopolitics Warfare

Axis of Arms: Russia and Iran’s Expanding Shadow Trade”

Moscow is quietly buying weapons from Tehran, relying on Iran to help it circumvent sanctions and secure flows of dual-use goods, often routed through third countries. Transport and logistics data…

August 19, 2025Iran, Russia

Corruption Economy Geoeconomics Geopolitics

Orban’s Gas Noose for Europe

As the European Union strives to end its dependence on Russian gas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban is not only preserving Hungary’s energy ties with the Kremlin but forging new partnerships…

August 18, 2025Hungary, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan

Democracy Geopolitics

Handshake in Alaska: How Trump Gave Putin a Victory at America’s Expense

The meeting between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin in Alaska on August 15 ended in colossal reputational losses for the United States, the result of misjudgment and overconfidence…

August 16, 2025Russia, Ukraine, USA

Corruption Geoeconomics Geopolitics

How Russia’s MoD Secures and Exploits Sahel’s Strategic Minerals

Between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—also known as the Confederation of Sahel States—was officially established in July 2024 as a mutual defense and political. After withdrawing from the Economic Community…

August 15, 2025Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Russia

Geopolitics ideology Intelligence ops

Undermined from Within: Russia’s Masterstroke Exploiting America’s Blindness and Betrayal

The Trump administration’s persistent failure to grasp that Russia will never enter into a genuine, equitable deal with the United States reflects a profound misunderstanding of Moscow’s strategic culture and…

August 13, 2025Russia, USA

Geoeconomics Geopolitics

The Expansion of Russia’s Strategic Alliances and Hybrid Threat Networks

1. Probability of DPRK Army Participation in Ukraine Current Assessment: Low-to-moderate likelihood in the short term (2025) of direct combat deployment inside Ukrainian territory. Moderate likelihood of indirect involvement — logistics, engineering, artillery crews, or military…

August 13, 2025DPRK, Russia, Ukraine

Intelligence ops migration National Security Psyops

Increased Libya → Belarus Flights: Analysis of Causes, Actors, Timing, and Risks

Since early–mid 2025 authorities and analysts have flagged an unexpected rise in air traffic linking eastern Libya (notably Benghazi) and Minsk. European institutions are alarmed because the pattern resembles earlier…

August 12, 2025Belarus, Libya, Russia

Russia