Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, addressed the RISA Plenary Session on “Non-Western World: Role and Opportunities of Russia”

MOSCOW. OCTOBER 18, 2023. PIR PRESS. “During the RISA Plenary Session, we discussed the opportunities for Russia that arose from strengthening cooperation with Non-Western countries. I presented the new projects of PIR Center that we implement jointly with MGIMO University in this dimension. In particular, I noted the project on high-tech collaboration with Sub-Saharan Africa and the Persian Gulf States”*, — Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, MGIMO University Professor.

On October 13, 2023, the Plenary Session of the XV RISA Convention on Non-Western World: Role and Opportunities of Russia was held by MGIMO University within the Priority Fest 2023 forum and was co-organized by the Priority-2030 program operator Sociocenter. Dr. Vladimir Orlov, Founding Director of PIR Center, participated in the event as one of the speakers.

Among the participants of the event were H.E. Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Dr. Feodor Voitolovsky, IMEMO RAS Director, Corresponding Member of RAS, Member of PIR Center Advisory Board; Dr. Mikhail Lipkin, Director of the RAS Institute of World History, Corresponding Member of RAS; Dr. Irina Abramova, Member of the RAS Presidium, Director of the RAS Institute for African Studies, Corresponding Member of RAS; Dr. Alikber Alikberov, Director of the RAS Institute of Oriental Studies. Dr. Andrey Baykov, Vice President for Research at MGIMO University, Member of PIR Center Advisory Board, moderated the Session.

The participants of the Session considered the possibilities of cooperation between Russia and the countries of the Global South and East. They also highlighted political and economic transformations in international relations.

Dr. Vladimir Orlov presented the tentative results of PIR Center research dedicated to the prospect of Russia’s cooperation with the African and Persian Gulf States on international security and high technologies. PIR Center projects also consider the opportunities of the countries being studied in cybersecurity and new technologies, the energy sphere, space research, and biotechnology.

Dr. Vladimir Orlov particularly emphasized the research on the Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and the Gulf States on Global Security and High Technologies. During the presentation, he presented the SWOT analysis on the cooperation of Russia with the Persian Gulf States and mentioned Russia’s competitors in the region.

Since 2023, PIR Center has been implementing two new projects: Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and the Gulf States on Global Security and High Technologies and Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and Sub-Saharan Africa on Global Security and High Technologies, which imply the elaboration on analytical materials and scientific and practical recommendations for government agencies and commercial structures.

Furthermore, from November 20 to November 27, 2023, PIR Center and MGIMO University will hold an advanced training course on Science and Technology Policies of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Persian Gulf States. The program participants will learn more about the management of high technologies, the policies of Sub-Saharan Africa and the Persian Gulf States in the respective fields, military-technical cooperation, etc. To participate in the program, you need to fill in the registration form. You can find more about the course here.

The program is implemented within the consortium of MGIMO University and PIR Center, established to carry out the joint project “Global Security, Strategic Stability, and Arms Control” (a strategic project “Global Studies for a Global Russia” under the auspices of the Priority-2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program).

*The source of the quote by Dr. Vladimir Orlov is his authorial Telegram channel Sobesednik-Na-Piru (In Russian).

Key words: Global Security; Middle East; Africa

GRS/RUF