NUPI Russia Conference 2025

Description

This conference presents the main findings of the RUSMENA project, funded by the Research Council of Norway. Launched in 2021, the project set out to explore Russian foreign policy actions in a group of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in order to better understand Russian power politics and its repertoire.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the project’s scope was expanded. In addition to the MENA region, the researchers now also examine Russian power practices in the Black Sea region, where Russian actions threaten the existing security architecture in Europe and challenge the global order.

The structure of this year’s conference reflects this broader perspective and is organized into three thematic sessions.

The first session addresses how Russian power practices can be studied – both in general terms and in the current context.

The second explores examples of Russia’s power projection in the MENA region and examines how regional actors have responded. It also looks at how Russia has exercised power in the Black Sea region, where it has increasingly relied on military means since 2014, and especially after 2022.

Finally, the third session asks Russia experts and stakeholders to assess the extent to which Russia’s use of power is driven by its quest for recognition as a great power that others must take into account.

Period	20 Nov 2025
Event type	Conference
Organiser	Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Sponsor	Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Location	Oslo, NorwayShow on map