On the platform of the Valdai Club, we have talked more than once about those shifts – serious, big shifts that have already taken place and are taking place in the world, about the risks that are associated with the degradation of world institutions, with the erosion of the principles of collective security, with the substitution of international law for the so-called rules – I wanted to say, it’s clear who invented it, but, perhaps, this is also inaccurate – it’s generally not clear who invented it, what these rules are based on, what is inside these rules.

The collapse of the Russian federation,  a complex, artificial, highly unequal and increasingly unproductive community  will take place because of its leaders in Moscow, and only because of them.

As of October 18, 2022

Author Federico PETRONI

Washington faces a dilemma: that is to what extent should it defeat Russia? And, most importantly, at what price? For the US, the center of gravity of the Ukraine war is not in Ukraine but in Europe. Key questions for the U.S. are : How to defend the international order against a country with extraordinary nuclear capabilities without triggering World War III?’

1. Their batteries need rare metals: The primary metals in EV batteries include Nickel, Lithium, Cobalt, Copper and Rare Earth metals (Neodymium and Dysprosium). The mining of these materials, their use in manufacturing and their ultimate disposal all present significant environmental challenges.

The eurozone’s big four economies –Germany, France, Italy and Spain – have all had their growth forecasts for 2023 downgraded by the International Monetary Fund, as a combination of the war and higher interest rates put a brake on activity.

Results

1. 143 countries have declared illegal the annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia
2. 5 countries consider the annexation of Ukrainian territory legal: Belarus, North Korea, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia
3. 35 countries have abstained

Abstentions

Acumen Public Affairs: Ann Marie Borg joins as associate director, via Hanbury Strategy. 

APCO Wolrdwide: Christoph Mielke was promoted to deputy managing director.

AVEC (The Voice of the European Poultry Meat Sector): Gert-Jan Oplaat is the new president succeeding Paul Lopez. 

The European Political Community aims to

• foster political dialogue and cooperation to address issues of common interest
• strengthen the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent

Participants

Since the war broke out in February, ISW has been the elite media’s go-to think tank for information and analysis.

The Institute for the Study of War has neoconservative roots and is run and staffed by pretty extreme hawks. Over the years it has gotten funding from various corners of the arms industry—General Dynamics, Raytheon, lesser known defense contractors, and big companies, like General Motors, that aren’t known as defense contractors but do get Pentagon contracts.