Russia
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Putin, Erdogan launch TurkStream to Turkey, Southern Europe
Russia and Turkey launched the TurkStream gas pipeline on 8 January in a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip...
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Libya’s warlord Haftar rejects call for ceasefire
Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, rejected calls for a ceasefire by Turkey and Russia and announced a continuation of his military...
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Russia and Turkey call for ceasefire in Libya
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire in Libya, following talks in Istanbul on 8 January.
In...
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Trump says Iran is ‘standing down’ after strike
Speaking from the White House, US President Donald Trump has said Iran "appears to be standing down" after it fired missiles at air bases...
Afghanistan
Iran’s top commander Soleimani killed in US drone strike
Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and the mastermind behind the Islamic Republic’s military and foreign policy in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,...
Archive
Irked Merkel rips US Nord-Stream-2 sanctions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly criticised US sanctions on companies constructing the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany but noted that...
Archive
OPEC+ becomes OPEC- with oil production cuts
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major producers led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, have reportedly agreed to...
Archive
Russia commences Power of Siberia pipeline gas supplies to China
Russia started on 2 December Russian gas pipeline supplies to China via the ambitious Power of Siberia gas pipeline or so-called eastern route.Taking part...
Archive
Gazprom sets rules for Ukraine passage of EU gas
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said on 18 November that the company submitted to Naftogaz of Ukraine an official proposal signed by Gazprom CEO Alexey...
Archive
Oil mess in Texas, OPEC caution gush crude prices
A surprise drop in US crude inventories and comments from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo about lower-than-expected US...
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Resumption of peace talks may pause Turkish drilling in Cyprus EEZ
Incoming new EU Commission may be keener on negotiations to resolve regional East Med problemsLIMASSOL, Cyprus – The possible resumption of the dormant peace...
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At Cairo summit, Turkey slammed for drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ
At a trilateral summit between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece in Cairo on 8 October, the leaders of the three countries slammed Turkey's drilling in...
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Drone strikes on Saudi oil fields spike prices
Geopolitical tensions and fears of longer-than-expected supply shortfalls led to Brent crude oil prices rising more than 1% on 19 September following the drone...
Archive
EU wants progress in Russia-Ukraine gas talks
The European Union will host a fresh round of Trilateral Gas Talks between Russia and Ukraine on 19 September in Brussels with European Commission...
Archive
Russia fuels global gas race with Arctic LNG-2 project
Competing in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) race, Russia’s largest independent gas producer, Novatek, France’s Total and the other project shareholders have approved...
Archive
EU says Ukrainian pipeline still key conduit for Russian gas
The European Union fully supports Ukraine as a stable and reliable transit route and will do its utmost to ensure that Ukraine remains an...
Archive
The big question mark for OPEC and Russia confab: Extend production cuts
MOSCOW – The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other major oil producers led by Russia plan to meet on 1-2 July in...
Archive
Don’t slow the flow: EU wants no snag in Russian gas via Ukraine
As Nord Stream-2 builders are planning to finish the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany underneath the Baltic Sea by the end of the...
Analysis
Could Kazakhstan’s recent election be a model for the rest of Central Asia?
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - As the dust settles following Kazakhstan’s elections, some outside observers are concluding that the approach taken by the Kazakh government in support...
Archive
Kosovo-Serbia relations again disrupted
Raids by Kosovo police on 28 May in a large anti-corruption operation triggered a serious deterioration of already-strained Kosovo-Serbia relations in the following days,...
Archive
US sanctions may be too late to stop Nord Stream-2 construction
US sanctions against the controversial Nord Stream-2 pipeline from Russia to Germany are unlikely stop the project’s construction but may prevent Russian gas monopoly...
Archive
US boosts LNG supplies to the EU, aiming to reduce reliance on Russia
The increased exports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe will decrease the European Union’s reliance on Russia and boost EU energy security,...
Archive
Finland to start constructing nuclear plant with Russian reactor in 2021
SOCHI, Russia – Fennovoima is proceeding with plans to build the Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power plant in the northern Finnish city of Pyhäjoki and...
Archive
OPEC+ oil production cuts, possible US-China trade deal boost oil prices
Supply cuts led by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela and the possibility of a US-China trade...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Important issues progressing while public attention fades
While the Name Dispute between Greece and the newly-renamed Republic of North Macedonia has fallen out of the headlines, several notable developments occurred in...
Archive
Pompeo spearheads US efforts to bring East Med gas to EU
ATHENS – The United States is very supportive of plans to develop gas reserves in the East Mediterranean and export them to Europe, lessening...
Archive
Delphi Economic Forum – A small US official presence, but long American shadow
DELPHI, Greece - At the February 28-March 3 Delphi Economic Forum, (DEF) entitled “The Challenge of Inclusive Growth” the long list of invited American...
Archive
Cyprus’ new Glaucus-1 gas field can boost EU energy security
DELPHI, Greece - A major offshore natural gas discovery in the Eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus at the Glaucus-1 well by US energy giant ExxonMobil...
Archive
Exxon potential gas find in East Med boosts EU pipeline hopes
Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy are expected to sign an intergovernmental agreement for the EU-backed EastMed pipeline project in March to transport natural gas...
Archive
German MEPs Brok and Keller reiterate opposition to Nord Stream-2
STRASBOURG – Two members of the European Parliament on February 12 renewed their opposition to the Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to...
Analysis
Name Dispute: North Macedonia’s name change takes hold
Following Greece’s ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol for North Macedonia February 8, over the past week, Europe witnessed a series of implementation steps...
Archive
EU tougher regulations unlikely to stop Nord Stream-2
EU ambassadors have reportedly agreed to toughen regulations on the Nord Stream-2 on February 8, but they have decided not to back plans that...
Archive
Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy show political will for EastMed gas pipe
ATHENS - There is political will from Israel, Cyprus, Greece and Italy to proceed with the construction of the EastMed natural gas pipeline, Israel’s...
Archive
US oil production may undermine OPEC-Plus cuts
The United States becomes a net energy exporter in 2020 and remains so throughout the projection period as a result of large increases in...
Archive
Tsipras narrowly wins self-imposed confidence vote
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras won the closest of confidence challenges late January 16 with 151 votes in favour and 148 against. Although at...
Archive
EU energy policy to boost security of supply in the Balkans
ATHENS – The European Union and member states need to work together to increase energy security, which is a goal that will be continued...
Archive
Slower global economic growth can lead to lower oil and gas prices in 2019
Oil prices are unlikely to rise significantly this year because of fears of an oil supply glut caused by over production and reduced oil...
Analysis
UN face off over Kosovo army vote
The Kosovo Parliament’s December 14 vote to formally create a military structure triggered the almost-automatic UN Security Council (UNSC) face off December 17 in...
Archive
Kosovo votes to transform civil defence force into formal military structure
The Kosovo Parliament voted almost unanimously on December 14 to begin the process of upgrading the country’s existing NATO/KFOR-trained paramilitary force, the Kosovo Security...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Flaws in Prespes Agreement fuel new Greek firestorm
With the Prespes Agreement ratification steamroller moving almost inexorably forward in Macedonia/FYROM, public attention to the issue in Greece has refocused and the subject...
Archive
Putin voices support for OPEC, sees no need to cut production
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said on November 15 that Moscow is committed to continuing its cooperation with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries...
Archive
With an eye on Nord Stream-2, EU Gas Directive debate heats up
The European Union debate on the on-going revision process of the Gas Directive continues as businesses and companies are concerned that changes will affect...
Archive
Name Dispute: Questions raised over Greek commitment to Prespes Agreement
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos displayed to his American interlocutors a total lack of policy coordination within his country’s coalition government when he proposed...
Analysis
Name Dispute: Referendum results wound two Balkan leaders
Zero hour has passed in the Name Dispute.
Surprisingly low turnout for the September 30 referendum in Macedonia/FYROM to approve June’s Prespes Agreement settling the...
Archive
Russia’s ‘western route’ to China may jeopardise Gazprom’s supplies to Europe
The Power of Siberia gas pipeline is scheduled to start on December 20, 2019, transporting gas supplies to China from the Russian Far East...
China
A revived role for the US in Northern Greece requires dynamic action and focus
As a former US diplomat who served as Consul General in Thessaloniki, it’s impossible not to become a lifelong booster of the Thessaloniki International...
Archive
Merkel, Putin to discuss Nord Stream-2 and Ukraine transit
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at the Meseberg Palace outside Berlin on August 18, the two leaders will reportedly discuss...
Archive
Trump-Erdogan spat, Iran sanctions, Maduro’s Venezuela could spike oil prices
Growing tensions between the United States and Turkey, fresh US sanctions against Iran, and falling oil production in Venezuela have increased the possibility of...
Archive
Russia’s Gazprom to supply China via Power of Siberia pipeline
In an effort to strengthen Russia’s foothold in the Asia-Pacific region, Gazprom is advancing plans to supply China with gas via the Power of...
Archive
Oil prices likely to rise as US plans to officially pull out of Iran deal
US President Donald J. Trump has said the United States will pull out of a nuclear agreement with Iran and any company dealing with...
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