Following Wagner’s mutiny in June 2023 and Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, the Russian government sought to replace the group in international operations in the Middle East and Africa. Antonio Giustozzi and David Lewis examine the shifts in Russian policy based on a series of interviews with Wagner personnel and other informed interlocutors.

In recent years, Georgia's ruling party has been shifting the country toward Russia, putting its long-standing cooperation with Washington and Brussels at risk. Nicholas Castillo examined the reasons behind this shift.

Moscow’s return to the Middle East rests on three main pillars: arms exports; access to military bases; and use of its private military companies, such as the Wagner Group.

Experts in international relations, Nguyen Ba Hai and Kazushige Kobayashi, analyze how successfully the Vietnamese leadership manages to implement the concept of "bamboo diplomacy" while balancing between Russia, China, and Western countries.

Diana Galeeva explores how the UAE has become a key strategic ally for Russia, while simultaneously maintaining a careful balance in its relations with Western nations.

The Moscow Patriarchate has recently established special missions in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe. Ivan U. Kłyszcz asserts that the role of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in the so-called ‘Global South’ is particularly significant as Moscow seeks to expand its international partnerships.

Professor of Political Science Nourhan ElSheikh notes that while Egypt-Russia cooperation is expected to progress, particularly in economic and technological areas, Egypt strives to maintain a balanced stance in its relations with both the West and Russia.

Sociologist Natalya Savelyeva explores the identities of the Russians who settled in Dubai after the onset of the war in Ukraine, examining whether the common belief that they are apolitical and solely concerned with their personal safety and wealth is accurate.

Researcher Konstantin Pakhaliuk looks at Russia’s foreign policy in Africa, in particular how Russia is trying to take advantage of the wait-and-see attitude of African countries toward the war in Ukraine and prove that Russia is not isolated, scaring the West with a “global authoritarian coalition.”

Foreign policy expert Yurii Agafonov views Russian foreign policy ideology as a dynamic process shaped by the interplay among presidential rhetoric, State Duma members, and Kremlin-affiliated intellectuals. This allows for an effective analysis of trends and origins in contemporary Russian foreign policy discourse.

International affairs scholar Ankita Dutta explores the deep-seated mechanisms that make the India-Russia partnership resilient amid tensions around the rise of China and disagreements in navigating a multipolar world.

International affairs expert Janko Šćepanović argues that since the October 7 attacks, Russia has stepped away from its balanced policy in the Middle East, siding more clearly with the Palestinians and criticizing Israel, in a bid to boost its image in the Global South.

Economist Vadim Grishin challenges the idea of Russia’s successful turn toward the Global South and explores the limits, both economic and political, of this rebranding, which Grishin doubts will help Russia to reintegrate into the world.

Sanat Kushkumbayev and Aigerim Bakhtiyarova reveal a significant shift in Kazakhstani intellectual elites' attitudes amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting a stark decrease in approval for Russian leadership and a strong preference for maintaining a neutral, multivector foreign policy among local experts.

Ivan Grek delves into the profound shifts in global power dynamics, spotlighting how, despite Western attempts to isolate Moscow, Russia has adeptly cultivated burgeoning partnerships with the Global South by leveraging its soft power and strategic economic ties.

Professor Alexander Libman explains why the West has failed at completely isolating Russia, which he attributes to the fundamental logic of markets and the perception of the Russia-Ukraine war in the Global South.

Aselia Orozova illustrates Kazakhstan's foreign policy shift towards a pro-Russian stance despite its neutral claims, emphasizing the strengthening of Kazakh-Russian economic and societal ties in the face of Western sanctions.

Laura Trajber Waisbich examines the Brazil-Russia strategic partnership, highlighting its potential amidst shared geopolitical unease with Western dominance, yet noting its challenges in defining tangible outcomes and a unified vision for an alternative global order.

Mark Katz explores the nuanced Middle Eastern response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting a mix of support for Moscow and cautious neutrality among US allies, driven by Putin's diplomacy and regional interests.