Putin prepares for White House shift
Flashpoints projected as Biden administration takes a tougher foreign policy stance on Russia
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s uncharacteristically unhurried effort to congratulate Joe Biden on his election victory reflects the challenges ahead for US-Russia relations. The president-elect, who worked with Russia during the Cold War on the Senate foreign relations committee and as vice president under President Barack Obama, is expected to be much firmer with Putin than his predecessor. During his election campaign, Biden called Russia an ‘opponent’ as well as the ‘biggest threat’ to the security of the US. Unlike Trump, who refused to criticise either Putin or Russian behaviour despite Congress applying sanctions on Russian entities and individuals, Biden’s position will align more
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
