Hello and welcome back to Geopolitics Daily.

Today, drones cause disruption in Denmark ahead of the EU summit, Netanyahu arrives in Washington for talks with Trump, and Moldova’s pro-EU bloc secures a narrow majority.

Our lead story explores how Russia is leveraging LNG to bypass sanctions and deepen its energy ties with Asia.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇰🇵 China and North Korea vow united front: China and North Korea agreed to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, pledging to oppose “hegemonism” and “unilateralism” and promote a more multipolar and equitable world order, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.

2️⃣ 🇲🇩 🇪🇺 🇷🇺 Moldova’s pro-EU bloc wins narrow majority: Moldova’s pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity won 50.2 percent of the vote in a parliamentary election marked by bomb threats, cyberattacks, and claims of Russian interference, defeating pro-Russian parties.

3️⃣ 🇬🇧 🇷🇺 UK ‘already at war with Russia’, warns ex-MI5 chief: Former MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller said the UK may already be at war with Russia due to extensive cyber-attacks, sabotage, and espionage linked to Moscow, aligning with analyst Fiona Hill’s earlier warning about Russian hostilities.

4️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Netanyahu in Washington for Trump talks: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Trump in Washington as Israel faces growing international pressure to end the Gaza war, with Trump expected to push a ceasefire plan that includes hostages’ release, Israeli withdrawal, and an international security force for postwar Gaza.

5️⃣ 🇪🇬 🇸🇦 🇦🇪 🇴🇲 🇵🇸 Arab states demand ceasefire and action against Israeli violations in Gaza:At the U.N. General Assembly, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman condemned Israel’s war in Gaza, warning of regional collapse and urging an immediate ceasefire, Palestinian statehood, and international action against Israeli violations.

Major Story

🇷🇺 RUSSIA LEVERAGES LNG TO OFFSET SANCTIONS AND EXPAND ENERGY TIES 

Western sanctions and Europe’s energy pivot were expected to cripple Russia’s energy sector, yet Moscow has adapted by turning geography into strategy. Long before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia invested heavily in LNG capacity, diversifying routes and building Arctic infrastructure. These moves now allow Moscow to redirect exports to Asia, deepening ties with China and India while sustaining revenues that fund its military and foreign policy. LNG has become a crucial geopolitical tool, helping Russia circumvent sanctions and maintain global energy relevance.

The Eastern Pivot

By 2024, over 60% of Russia’s crude oil exports were heading to Asia, with India and China buying record volumes at discounted prices. Moscow’s strategic pricing enabled it to overtake Saudi Arabia as China’s largest oil supplier and transform India into a critical new market. Though this pivot comes at a fiscal cost—export revenues have fallen to near five-year lows—it secures Moscow’s foothold in key growth markets and blunts the impact of Western embargoes.

Arctic Advantage and Strategic Competition

Russia’s control of the Northern Sea Route and its LNG projects, including Yamal LNG and the planned Arctic LNG 2, position it to supply Asia more quickly than U.S. Gulf Coast producers. Washington faces structural hurdles: higher shipping costs, Henry Hub–linked pricing, and longer delivery times. Upcoming U.S. projects in Alaska and the West Coast could narrow this gap, but they remain years away. For now, Moscow’s mix of discounted oil, competitive LNG, and strategic infrastructure offers it leverage in Asia—challenging U.S. influence and reshaping global energy geopolitics.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇪🇺 Drones disrupt Copenhagen ahead of EU summit: Denmark has banned all civilian drone flights until 3 October to bolster security for the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen after unidentified drones repeatedly disrupted airports and flew over military sites.

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Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics