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☆ Putin reassures Asian allies of Russia's stability after mutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a summit of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) via a video conference call at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, July 4, 2023. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERSMOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin reassured Asian leaders of Russia's stability and unity on Tuesday in his first appearance at an international forum since the country was rocked by a brief armed mutiny last month. "The Russian people are consolidated as never before," Putin told a virtual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a group that also includes China and India. Putin told the group there was a growing risk of a new global economic and financial crisis fuelled by developed countries' debts and worsening food and environmental security. Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan Editing by Andrew Osborn and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Kazakov, Putin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Mark Trevelyan, Andrew Osborn, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Kremlin, Sputnik, REUTERS, Fatherland, Moscow, Belarus, SCO, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Kremlin, REUTERS MOSCOW, China, India, Russian, Ukraine, Iran, United States

Putin used his moment to speak at the one-day summit to give his answer to that question. That event stretched over two in-person days in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and featured a number of sideline meetings between attending leaders. India announced last month that its leaders’ summit would be held virtually, without specifying why. At last year’s SCO summit, Modi told Putin in “today’s era is not an era of war.”And India has its own friction with neighboring China. In May, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became the most senior-level official to visit India in seven years, when he joined a SCO foreign ministers meeting.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin, Wagner, ”, ” Putin, China’s Xi, Belarus ’ Alexander Lukashenko, Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, ” Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, Xi, ” Xi, Biden, “, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Indian, India, China’s Foreign Ministry, India’s Ministry, External, CNN, Pakistani, Belarus Locations: Hong Kong, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, spreadheaded, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Eurasia, Tuesday’s, Iran, Beijing, Samarkand, New Delhi, Pacific, ”

☆ China can gain leverage over Russia during SCO summit: Wilson Center
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina may be able to gain more leverage over Russia during SCO summit, says Wilson Center analystChina may be able to gain more leverage over Russia as the Kremlin becomes more dependent on Beijing, says Michael Kugelman, a deputy director at Wilson Center, when asked about what to expect at the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Persons: Michael Kugelman Organizations: China, SCO, Wilson Center, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Locations: Russia, Beijing

Putin spoke to Modi in a call last week to discuss the aftermath of the quashed mercenary mutiny. The summit on Tuesday will also see Modi sharing the virtual stage with Xi for the first time since November when the two leaders were present for the G20 summit in Indonesia. It will also bring Modi face to face online with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif, 10 months after they both attended the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. New Delhi announced last month that the summit will be held virtually, without providing any justification. SCO member nations are expected to discuss Afghanistan, terrorism, regional security, climate change and digital inclusion, among other topics.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Putin, Modi, Uzbekistan Modi, Xi, Biden, Shehbaz Sharif, Krishn Kaushik, William Maclean Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Belarus, China’s, SCO, Indian, U.S, Foreign, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Iran, China, Russia, Soviet, Pakistan, Eurasia, Belarus, Moscow, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, New Delhi, Indonesia, Uzbekistan . New Delhi, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Goa, Kashmir

☆ Putin expected to meet Xi and Modi at SCO Summit following Wagner insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —All eyes will be on Vladimir Putin this week, with the Russian president expected to make his first appearance on the world stage since the Wagner insurrection threatened his steel grip on power. In the brief, chaotic insurrection, Wagner – a private mercenary group led by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – took control of key military facilities in two Russian cities. Participants of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. By contrast, Putin managed to end the Wagner insurrection before it reached the capital, without bloodshed. Modi made headlines at last year’s in-person SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when he told Putin that now is not the time for war, appearing to directly rebuff the invasion.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Putin, Wagner –, Yevgeny Prigozhin –, Prigozhin, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi –, –, they’re, ”, Derek Grossman, Grossman, ” Grossman, Murat Kula, “, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Matsuda, ” Matsuda, “ Xi Jinping, Alexander Korolev, That’s, won’t, Korolev, India’s Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, RAND’s Grossman, India’s Organizations: CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Kremlin, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Tokyo, “ Russia, China –, Kazakhstan, University of New Locations: Russian, Beijing, Moscow, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, US, Russia, China, Samarkand, Central Asia, Iran, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, University of New South Wales, Australia, India, Washington, Indian, Goa, Delhi

☆ China's Xi to attend, deliver speech at SCO summit via video link - foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, June 30 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping will attend and deliver a speech at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) via video link on July 4, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. India, as the chair nation of this year's summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State, announced in May that it would hold the event in a virtual format. The SCO is a political and security union of countries spanning much of Eurasia, including China, India and Russia. Kazakhstan will take over the presidency of the SCO after the July summit. Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Ryan Woo, Ethan Wang, Jacqueline Wong, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO Council, Heads, State, Defence, SCO, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, India, Eurasia, China, Russia, Soviet, Central Asia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan

☆ Turkey's Erdogan faces toughest test yet in landmark election — with high stakes for the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

He came to prominence as mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s, and was celebrated in the first decade of the new millennium for transforming Turkey's economy into an emerging market powerhouse. But recent years have been far less rosy for the religiously conservative leader, whose own economic policies have triggered a cost-of-living crisis. Now, given a recent downturn in support for Erdogan, some fear he may play dirty to ensure his hold on power. The stakes are high for the entire country and, more broadly, global geopolitics – and the mood on the ground is tense. Mustafa Kamaci | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images"I'm very concerned that [Erdogan] may deploy underhanded tactics, cheating and even violence," Ibish said.

☆ China assures Russia, India of deepening 'cooperation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang pose for a photograph during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa, India, May 4, 2023. Currently the bloc includes Russia, India, China, Pakistan and four Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran and Belarus are expected to be inducted into the SCO at a summit in New Delhi in July, an Indian foreign ministry official said. In a separate meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Qin said China is willing to deepen "coordination and cooperation" on international and regional issues with India and bring ties back to a "healthy" track of development. China's ties with India have deteriorated since 2020, when their troops clashed on a disputed Himalayan border and 24 people were killed.

New Delhi CNN —India’s defense minister told his Chinese counterpart on Thursday that violations of their shared border erode the “entire basis” of relations between the two Asian neighbors. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh made the comments during a meeting with newly appointed Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in New Delhi ahead of a regional security summit on Friday. “He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation,” the statement added. His visit comes four days after India and China concluded the 18th round of talks to attempt to resolve the border issue. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to the country will be the most senior-level one in seven years.

Singh "categorically conveyed that development of relations between India and China is premised on prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders", it said. India accuses China of frequently intruding into its side of the disputed border in violation of agreements signed since the 1990s. China pushed for engagement and cooperation between the two militaries but was told by India that could happen only if there is tranquillity on the border, two Indian sources told Reuters. The two ministers met ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) defence ministers' gathering in New Delhi. It is also the first visit by a Chinese defence minister to India since the violence in the Himalayas began in May 2020.

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Pakistan’s Foreign Minister will travel to India next month, the most senior-level visit in seven years in what is a major diplomatic breakthrough between two nuclear-armed neighbors with a long history of fractious relations. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) foreign ministers meeting on May 4-5 in the western Indian coastal state of Goa, Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed Thursday. This is the first time that the most senior Pakistani foreign office representative has visited India since 2016. Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have been beset by decades of distrust and occasional bouts of open conflict. The SCO and China’s growing hand in diplomacyThe SCO is an eight-member regional security and economic grouping led by China, and its members include India, Pakistan and Russia.

☆ Riyadh joins Shanghai Cooperation Organization as ties with Beijing grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RIYADH, March 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved on Wednesday a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China despite U.S. security concerns. Saudi Arabia has approved a memorandum on granting the kingdom the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), state news agency SPA said. Joining the SCO was discussed during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia last December, sources have told Reuters. Dialogue partner status will be a first step within the organisation before granting the kingdom full membership in the mid-term, they said. Riyadh's growing ties with Beijing have raised security concerns in Washington, its traditional ally.

☆ Saudi Arabia takes step to join China-led security bloc, as ties with Beijing strengthen
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's cabinet approved a decision to join a China-led security bloc, strengthening Riyadh's eastern ties in a further step away from U.S. interests. The organization further tallies four observer states — including Iran — and nine dialogue partners, counting in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. The White House did not immediately respond to a CNBC request to comment on Saudi Arabia's new dialogue partner status in the SCO. Saudi interests have long been intertwined with those of leading SCO members China and Russia. Beijing is Riyadh's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $87.3 billion in 2021, according to Reuters.

☆ Right-wing Quran burning in Sweden enrages Turkey and throws a new wrench in Nordics’ NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Rasmus Paludan holds a burning Koran outside of the Turkish embassy on January 21, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Jonas Gratzer | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesOn Saturday, far-right demonstrators burned a Quran and chanted anti-Muslim slogans in front of Turkey's embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Several media outlets and independent journalist gather to see Rasmus Paludan stage a Koran burning outside the Turkish embassy on January 21, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reportedly denounced the protest as an act of "sabotage" against the country's NATO membership bid. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that Turkey would approve his country's NATO bid.

☆ China's Xi has met with more than 25 world leaders since consolidating power at home
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's President Xi Jinping attends a session during the G20 Summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on November 16, 2022. BEIJING — A month after consolidating power at home, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stepped out onto the world stage to strengthen relations with the U.S. and other countries. Most recently, Xi hosted President of the European Council Charles Michel in Beijing on Thursday. "He met with leaders of advanced industrial democracies for the first time since the pandemic began and amid fraught relations between China and the West. Most of Xi's meetings fueled a positive outlook for stabilizing relations."

☆ Kremlin declines to comment on reported Ukraine talks with Biden aide
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERSNov 7 (Reuters) - The Kremlin declined to comment on Monday on a Wall Street Journal report that Washington had held undisclosed talks with top Russian officials about avoiding further escalation in the Ukraine war. According to the report, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held talks with aides to President Vladimir Putin in the hope of reducing the risk that the war in Ukraine spills over or escalates into a nuclear conflict. "We have nothing to say about this publication," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. He added that while Russia remains "open" to talks, it is unable to negotiate with Kyiv due to the latter's refusal to hold talks with Russia.

☆ India's military relationship with Russia isn't going away — it'll 'endure for decades,' analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization leaders' summit in Samarkand on Sept. 16, 2022. Alexandr Demyanchuk | Afp | Getty ImagesIndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have publicly rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, but the longstanding friendship between the two countries isn't going away, analysts said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, claimed that Russia and India were "friends," a month after Ukraine was invaded. But despite India's apparent change in stance over the war, India still needs Russia, analysts told CNBC. "Russia remains India's most important [military] partner," he added.

☆ China's Xi makes first public appearance in Beijing since trip to Central Asia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterChinese President Xi Jinping attends an extended-format meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states at a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERSBEIJING, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping visited an exhibition in Beijing on Tuesday, according to state television, in his first public appearance since returning to China from an official trip to Central Asia in mid-September. Xi is widely expected to secure a precedent-breaking third term as leader at the Communist Party's once-in-five-years congress next month. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Ryan Woo and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Jon BoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kremlin says no decisions taken on border closure amid mobilisation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that no decisions had been taken on closing Russia's borders, amid an exodus of military-age men since President Vladimir Putin declared a partial mobilisation last Wednesday. Asked about the possibility of border closures in a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "I don't know anything about this. Russian media have reported a string of cases of elderly or medically exempt men being called up for service in Ukraine. The comments come amid rising fears of a border closure, with Russia's frontiers seeing an unprecedented outflow of military-aged men since the partial mobilisation was declared last week. On Sunday, Novaya Gazeta reported that 261,000 men had left the country since partial mobilisation was declared, citing an unnamed source in Russia's presidential administration.

☆ Analysis: As Putin escalates Ukraine war, China stands awkwardly by him
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Brenda Goh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China will instead dig in on its awkward stance of calling for dialogue and peaceful resolution while refusing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, they said. But China has been careful not to provide any direct material support that could trigger Western sanctions against it. "I don't see how different any new position will be ... China doesn't support the war, it doesn't support conflict, that's been very clear from the beginning," said Henry Wang Huiyao, founder of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization. Russia says its actions in Ukraine are a "special operation" to degrade its neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it calls dangerous nationalists. Although China probably hoped for a short war, Putin's battlefield moves in Ukraine - seeking to counter recent defeats - are unlikely to concern Beijing or change the substantive nature of the countries' relationship, analysts said.

☆ 'Path to oblivion': Ukraine military gains could deepen Russia's economic problems
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Foreign Ministry Of Uzbekistan | via ReutersUkraine's counteroffensive, which has seen vast swathes of Russian-occupied territory get recaptured, could be compounding Russia's economic troubles, as international sanctions continue to hammer its fortunes. Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, said the recently Ukrainian military gains could hit Russia's economy hard. "Even more so than before, the Russian economy looks set to descend into a gradually deepening recession," Schmieding said in a note last week. Statistics are scarce on the true state of the Russian economy, with the Kremlin keeping its cards relatively close to its chest. She added that the Kremlin had "put Russia's economy on that path to oblivion" and vowed that sanctions were "here to stay."

☆ Putin says West engaging in nuclear blackmail, Russia can respond
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a news conference following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused the West of engaging in nuclear blackmail against Russia, in a speech announcing a partial mobilisation for the country's military campaign in Ukraine. In the televised speech, Putin said that Russia had "lots of weapons to reply" to what he called Western threats and said that he was not bluffing. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UK says Putin's threats must be taken seriously
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states at a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan/Handout via REUTERS/File PhotoLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech on Wednesday was a worrying escalation and the threats he made in it must be taken seriously, British foreign office minister Gillian Keegan told Sky News. "Clearly it's something that we should take very seriously because, you know, we're not in control - I'm not sure he's in control either, really. Earlier, Putin said that Russia had "lots of weapons to reply" to what he called Western threats and said that he was not bluffing. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by William James, Editing by Paul Sandle and Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kremlin says Ukrainian war crimes claims are a lie
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan September 16, 2022. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoSummary This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Monday rejected allegations that Russian forces had committed war crimes in Ukraine's Kharkiv province as a "lie". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said investigators at the site had found evidence of torture, including bodies with hands tied, and accused Russian troops of committing war crimes. read moreAsked on Monday about Zelenskiy's statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "It's the same scenario as in Bucha.

☆ Why the current oil boom for Arab states may be their last
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

During previous oil booms, Gulf states were seen as squandering their wealth on wasteful and inefficient investments, building sprees and buying weapons, as well as handouts to citizens . Gulf states appear to be working on diversifying. Since the last oil boom that ended in 2014, four of the six Gulf states have introduced value-added tax and the UAE has gone further by starting a corporate income levy . None of the Gulf states have an income tax. Critics counter that it is in the oil exporters' interest to push that narrative, but oil states have pointed to the rise in crude demand that coincided with the removal of Covid-19 restrictions around the world.

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