Recent Posts

Spotlight on Iran and the Shiite Axis

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a preemptive attack in Iran, which includes attacks againstdozens of military and security targets, government targets, and nuclear facilities. SeniorIranian regime officials accuse Israel of committing “crimes” and continue to threaten thatIsrael will continue to pay a “heavy price” for its ongoing attacks. Before …

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‘We really are in a perfect storm’

At an event on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made a telling remark. In his words, the country’s federal budget, which has posted a deficit in the first part of the year, is weathering “serious turbulence.” The comment came in response …

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An economic reality check

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is known for the noise it generates in the news media, but SPIEF also hosts some substantive discussions. This year, one of the forum’s most consequential exchanges was between high-ranking officials and state bankers about Russia’s risk of recession. The first to raise the …

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