№ 27, 2024. Zvenigorod has hosted the first global launch of the new must-read for all security aficionados – Security Index Yearbook 2024-2025 Global Edition (in English)

ZVENIGOROD. JULY 8, 2024. PIR PRESS. «The Security Index Yearbook is unique in its format and value of information. Thanks to the quality of its analyses, the Yearbook enables public and private sector professionals to improve their knowledge of global security. Security Index Yearbook is an excellent source of information for French civil servants since it provides a different point of view from what is officially said in France,» – Mr. Philippe Grinenberger (France), Chairman of the Association of French-Speaking Students in Moscow.

Zvenigorod, a charming ancient Russian town one hour West of Moscow, filled with churches and historical artifacts, has hosted the first global launch of the Security Index Yearbook 2024-2025 Global Edition, co-published in English by MGIMO and PIR Center.

Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center and Editor-in-Chief of the Security Index Yearbook, delivered a welcoming speech. Then, leading Russian experts, authors of the Security Index Yearbook, shared their thoughts and views on the current situation and topical issues of international relations: Dr. Dmitry Trenin, Senior Research Fellow at the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Sector of the Center for International Security of IMEMO RAS, Research Professor at HSE University, member of PIR Center Executive Board; Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev, Professor of the Department of Theory of Law and State at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); Dr. Andrey Kortunov, Academic Director of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).

Speaking during the session, Dr. Dmitry Trenin, Senior Research Fellow at the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Sector of the Center for International Security of IMEMO RAS, Research Professor at HSE University, emphasized: “Russian foreign policy after February 2022 turned out to be cleaved in two: on the one hand – the circle of friends and partners, which make up the world majority, and on the other – the circle of adversaries, represented by the collective West. While confrontation intensifies on the track of relations between Russia and the West, relations with countries of the Global East and South are characterized by rapidly built contacts and cooperation. In the long term, Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine and, together with its partners, will build a model of new international relations, first in Eurasia (although not in its European part).”

Representatives of the diplomatic corps from several countries attended the session, as did international relations specialists. Among representatives – attendees from Brazil, Qatar, Mexico, Australia, Belarus, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, New Zealand, Germany, France, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, and other countries. The leading media outlets covered the event.

During the launch, the participants exchanged views openly. All the guests were allowed to ask the authors of the Security Index Yearbook questions and share their ideas.

“The Security Index Yearbook, with its comprehensive and insightful analysis, is vital for understanding the current security challenges that affect our global community. The authors’ in-depth research and clear writing style make this book informative and engaging for readers. The book is very useful for the international expert community to gain a deeper understanding of Russian perspectives on various security matters,” – Ms. Laura Szilagyi (Hungary).

The Security Index Yearbook, with its 576 pages, consists of eight Parts and 29 Chapters. It highlights the issues of global concern such as international terrorism, nuclear weapons and strategic arms control agenda, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, new types of conventional weapons, space security, and cyber diplomacy. Regarding regional security, it concentrates on Sino-Russian relations, the Middle East, Russian-Iranian relations, the assessment of BRICS prospects, new developments in the relations between Russia and African countries, and the security dialogue between Russia and the states of Latin America, to mention just a few. It also contains book reviews and the chronology of recent global and regional security events.

PIR Center and MGIMO put much effort into preparing the Security Index Yearbook, and the final product is worth every effort.

“The Security Index Yearbook is a serious compilation of academic papers. This book is devoted to contemporary challenges to international security and strategic stability and their analysis. Among the authors of the Yearbook are leading Russian specialists: PhDs and doctors with vast experience. I would like to express my special gratitude for publishing the Yearbook to the entire team of PIR Center specialists, especially Editor-in-Chief Dr. Vladimir Orlov and Executive Editor Ms. Elena Karnaukhova,” – Mr. Azim Vakhidov (Tajikistan).

The Yearbook brings together under its cover 31 authors: Dr. Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences; H.E. Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Amb. Kirill Barsky, Head of the Diplomacy Department at MGIMO University; Dr. Andrey Kortunov, Academic Director of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC); Dr. Dmitry Trenin, Senior Research Fellow at the Nonproliferation and Arms Control Sector of the Center for International Security of IMEMO RAS; Dr. Vladimir Orlov, PIR Center Founding Director, Professor at MGIMO University; Dr. Dmitry Polikanov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo; Dr. Maxim Suchkov, Director of the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO University; Dr. Vasily Kashin, Director of the Department of World Economy and World Politics at HSE University; Dr. Dmitry Evstafiev, Professor of the Department of Theory of Law and State at Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University); Dr. Mikhail Lysenko, Deputy Director of the Department of International Law at MGIMO University; Mr. Dmitry Stefanovich, Research Fellow at the Sector for Military Economics and Innovation of the Center for International Security at IMEMO RAS; Dr. Elena Chernenko, Special Correspondent of the Kommersant Daily, member of PIR Center Executive Board, among others.

The International Editorial Board of the Security Index Yearbook is headed by Acad. Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO University, and includes, among others Dr. Venkatesh Varma, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to the Russian Federation in 2018-2021, distinguished fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation; Dr. Nabil Fahmy, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (2013-2014), Dean Emeritus of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo; Dr. Sergey Brilev, President of the Global Energy Association; Dr. Mikhail Margelov, Vice President of the Russian International Affairs Council; Dr. Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy Coordination Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Amb. Sergio Duarte, a career diplomat of Brazil, former President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; Lieutenant General (ret.) Evgeny Buzhinsky, PIR Center Executive Board Chairman.

More information about the Yearbook, as well as its digital version, is available here. Remarkably, PIR Center will also hold further global presentations of the Yearbook in Astana (Kazakhstan) in September 2024 for the target audience based in Eurasia; then, in Abu-Dhabi (UAE) for the Middle East and Geneva (Switzerland) for the UN and Europe; and during the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan.

This volume of the Security Index Yearbook has been prepared within the joint project of PIR Center and MGIMO University Global Security, Strategic Stability, and Arms Control under the auspices of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program.

Key words: Global Security; Security Index Yearbook

SIY

F4/SOR – 24/07/08