Weekly Report - 30 April 2015 (WR-15-17)

Alienated in their different ways from both the European Union (EU) and the US over the past year Argentina and Russia have strengthened their relationship with a flurry of diplomatic agreements. Almost 100 bilateral accords have been signed between Buenos Aires and Moscow in the past year, in the areas of energy, defence, technology and agriculture. Similarly, President Cristina Fernández has initiated a frenzy of diplomatic activity with China, to the extent that the Chinese ambassador has expressed a hope that the two countries will develop a “healthier” bilateral relationship in future. However, there are questions as to how durable these deals may be, given all of her likely successors have indicated they want to improve relations with the EU and the US (see next page)