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Category Archives: Articles & Blogs

SYSTEMIC VIOLENCE THREATENS MIDDLE EAST OIL OUTLOOK

Articles & Blogs, Energy Security, Geopolitics, Middle East
Posted on: June 3, 2015

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.

WILL GREECE–RUSSIA GAS DEAL THREATEN EU ENERGY SECURITY?

Articles & Blogs, Energy Security, Geopolitics, Mediterranean, Russia & Eurasia
Posted on: May 4, 2015

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

Articles & Blogs, Geopolitics, Russia & Eurasia
Posted on: April 21, 2015

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.

Putin’s Chilling Message to the West

Articles & Blogs, Geopolitics, Russia & Eurasia
Posted on: April 10, 2015

KyivPost
April 10, 2015
By Dr. Ariel Cohen

Vladimir Putin’s 10-day disappearance shortly after the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and his triumphal reappearance after the broadcast of a 150-minute documentary on state television, suggest a more erratic—and aggressive—policy course in Russia. Here’s why.