MenuVladimir Zhirinovsky, Vice Speaker of the Duma and leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, has announced that in 2016, Russian flags will fly over Kyiv, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius. Zhirinovsky is known to fly trial balloons on the Kremlin’s behalf. One cannot tell whether this is information warfare, a mere bluff to unsettle NATO, or a real signal. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Category Archives: Geopolitics
CHINA’S “ONE BELT – ONE ROAD” MEGA-PROJECT WILL BOOST EURASIAN NATURAL GAS OPPORTUNITIES
Natural Gas Europe
June 29th, 2015
By Ariel Cohen
The efforts of China to ensure its economic development and preeminence include the creation of the “New Silk Road” – the enormous system of infrastructure mega-projects to stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic. If completed, it will be the largest infrastructure undertaking ever built. Natural gas features prominently in the plan.
Hey, Remember Me? It’s Europe: The Transatlantic Alliance is in Trouble
The Atlantic Council
June 25, 2015
By Arial Cohen
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves cautioned at the Bratislava Global Security Forum on June 20, 2015, that the West should not stress the differences between old and new Europe, but find ways to unite Central and Eastern Europe with Western Europe.
ARIEL COHEN: RUSSIA IS EXPANDING INTIMIDATION TACTICS IN EASTERN UKRAINE
Kyiv Post
April 24, 2014
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Vice President Joe Biden, who went to Ukraine on Monday for a two-day visit to express U.S. support for the government in Kyiv, has accused Russia of being behind the irregular armed forces who are taking over Eastern Ukraine
Turkey threatens the major prospects for Eastern Med gas supply
Security Europe
June 2015
By Ariel Cohen
As Europe seeks to diversify its sources of natural gas as an alternative to the politically sensitive Russian supply, a massive off-shore gas source in the Mediterranean is ready for exploration and drilling. There are game-changing stakes at play.
Beyond Oil and Gas: Kazakhstan Bets its Future on Reform
Natural Gas Europe
June 08, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Recent events in Ukraine and Russia’s anti-Western rhetoric and military posture force European energy consumers to look for alternatives for Russian hydrocarbons. One of the possible suppliers of both oil and gas could be Kazakhstan, which boast the largest hydrocarbon resources in the oil-rich Caspian basin.
SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE THREATENS MIDDLE EAST OIL OUTLOOK
The Atlantic Council
June 03, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
When oil ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meet in Vienna on June 5, they’ll face a strategic dilemma. Political instability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is discouraging capital investment in local oil and gas projects, and shifting interest to North Americanshale—despite MENA’s cheap, abundant and easy-to-extract hydrocarbon resources (see graphs below). Although the current oil slump has hurt investment worldwide, the recovery period appears to favor investment in North America, the Caspian, and Africa at OPEC’s expense.
Dr. Cohen discusses Europe’s energy security on “This Week in Focus”
Published on May 6, 2015 Expert Ariel Cohen joins the latest episode of “This Week in Focus”, to talk about Europe’s energy security, gas supplies from Caspian Region and Azerbaijan’s role in the Southern Gas Corridor
WILL GREECE–RUSSIA GAS DEAL THREATEN EU ENERGY SECURITY?
Natural Gas Europe
May 04, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that Greece would get “hundreds of millions of Euros every year” for bringing Russian gas into the EU. Gazprom’s goal is to establish a new entry point to Europe bypassing the traditional route through Ukraine. Panagiotis Lafazanis, the Greek energy minister, announced last week that Athens may repay the advance provided by Moscow once the “Turkish Stream” extension becomes operational in 2019.
No Easy Outs for Putin: US Presidential Candidates United on Ukraine
Atlantic Council
April, 21, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen
Ukraine will remain at the heart of the conflict between the US and Russia beyond the 2016 presidential election. In the polls, Americans are united on Ukraine; the majority of respondents support increased sanctions on the Kremlin. All of the major presidential candidates, save Senator Rand Paul, take a tough approach with Moscow and support arming Ukraine.