CIIC

🔥 August in Focus — #CIIC_digest

August brought renewed geopolitical tensions, growing trade disputes and important developments in global economic and environmental policy. We have gathered five events that may continue to shape the international agenda in the months ahead.

🇮🇷 US–Iran Escalation Puts the Strait of Hormuz Back in Focus

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated again at the end of August after US forces struck Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with attacks on US forces in Jordan. The renewed confrontation increased risks for one of the world’s most important energy corridors, pushing Brent crude above $90 per barrel and adding further uncertainty to global shipping and energy markets.

🇨🇦 US–Canada Trade Dispute Escalates with New Tariffs

Trade relations between the United States and Canada deteriorated sharply after Washington introduced 50% tariffs on around $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. Ottawa responded by announcing retaliatory duties on approximately 700 US products, with rates ranging from 15% to 50%, alongside a C$7.5 billion support package for affected businesses. The dispute adds new pressure to highly integrated North American supply chains and raises questions over the future of the USMCA trade framework.

🇺🇸 Federal Reserve Signals That Interest Rates Could Rise Again

At the annual Jackson Hole symposium, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh signalled that additional monetary tightening may be necessary if inflation does not move convincingly towards the Fed’s 2% target. His remarks sharply increased market expectations of a rate hike in September and strengthened the US dollar. The shift is important well beyond the United States, as higher US interest rates affect global capital flows, borrowing costs and emerging-market currencies.

🇨🇳🇮🇳 China and India Move to Stabilise Relations Along Their Border

China and India reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace along their disputed border following high-level talks in Beijing. The two sides agreed to expand communication channels and continue working towards a mutually acceptable settlement of their long-running territorial disagreements. Even limited progress between Asia’s two largest countries is significant for regional stability and for the broader balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

🇲🇳 COP17 in Mongolia Brings Land Restoration and Drought Resilience to the Forefront

Ulaanbaatar hosted COP17 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification on August 17–28. The conference placed particular emphasis on rangelands, land restoration and drought resilience. Among the initiatives announced were a $1.2 billion portfolio of 45 rangeland projects and a new Drought Resilience Investment Facility designed to mobilise up to $400 million in public and private capital. The discussions highlighted the growing connection between environmental degradation, food security, migration and long-term economic stability.

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🎓 🤩 The Online Stage of “Horizons of Opportunity” Is Complete

On August 27, the online learning stage of the “Horizons of Opportunity” Program came to an end. For almost two months, participants from three Schools studied international relations, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian cooperation together with Russian experts while working on their own projects.

Now comes one of the most important parts of the Program — final project presentations. Participants are presenting business projects, analytical papers, and initiatives in the field of international humanitarian cooperation. Based on the results, the participants who will move on to the next stage — the Regional Stage — will be selected.

📍 This autumn, “Horizons of Opportunity” will continue in person in four Russian cities:

Moscow 🏛 — October 5–8
Vladivostok 🌊 — October 19–22
St. Petersburg ⚓️ — November 2–5
Krasnodar ☀️ — November 16–19

The Regional Stage will focus on in-person teamwork and practical tasks. Participants will meet experts, attend lectures on Russia and contemporary international affairs, develop professional skills, explore how to use AI effectively, and, most importantly, work in teams on a practical case and present their solutions.

🎭🏙 The Program will also include a cultural component, giving participants an opportunity to discover each city and get to know one another beyond the online classroom.

For now, we wish everyone the best of luck with their final presentations.

✨ Very soon, we will find out who will continue their “Horizons of Opportunity” journey in Moscow, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, and Krasnodar!

Bringing Latin America Closer: Talking Public Diplomacy in Volgograd 💬🤝

🌏 Maria Prokofieva, Director of the Center for International Interaction and Cooperation (CIIC), took part in the School on Latin America, currently taking place in Volgograd.

The School is organized by our friends at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund together with the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ILA RAS) and the Center for Public Diplomacy of Volgograd State University. This year, the programme has brought together more than 30 students and young professionals to discuss the future of Russia–Latin America relations and develop their own project ideas.

Maria spoke at the workshop “Bringing Latin America Closer: How Public Diplomacy Is Transforming Relations with Russia.” The discussion focused on formats that help build lasting ties between people and organizations: youth and expert exchanges, educational programmes, joint research, internships, volunteer initiatives, and humanitarian projects.

Drawing on CIIC’s projects, Maria shared our approach to this work. For us, participation in an international programme should not end when the final session is over. A strong project should give participants a clear next step — a new professional contact, a joint publication, an internship, a research project, or an initiative of their own.
The discussion also addressed some very practical questions: how to reach beyond the same familiar audiences, overcome language and logistical barriers, and, most importantly, maintain connections between participants after a project has ended.

😌 Many thanks to our colleagues at the Gorchakov Fund for the invitation and for creating a space where Russia–Latin America cooperation is discussed not only in terms of major international trends, but also through concrete projects that can be launched today.

¡Gracias, Volgograd! 🇷🇺✨

🌍 August on the Electoral Map: Five Processes to Watch

August has brought a number of significant electoral developments across different regions of the world — from general and parliamentary elections to constitutional and EU-related referendums.

Some votes have already reshaped national political institutions, while others are still ahead and could influence the political trajectory of their countries for years to come.

We have selected five electoral processes worth watching this August.

Find out more in our cards⬆️

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