Abstract: This article is devoted to analyzing the competition between China and India in the Indian Ocean. Both countries are becoming formidable marine States, actively developing the port infrastructure in the littoral States, and with concentration on foreign policy strategies attempt to shift balance of power and strengthening of their positions. The growing military fleet presence of China affects India’s strategic interests, which in the context of this struggle leans on ally relations, including with Japan. On the example of Zheng He expeditions, this research demonstrates the geopolitical importance of the Indian Ocean region even dating back to the Middle Ages. Analysis is conducted on the China’s "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" initiative and India’s counter-initiatives, including those associated with the Japan’s project “Partnership for Quality Infrastructure”. A conclusion is made on the leading role of China and India in development of port infrastructure in the Indian Ocean region. It is noted that with escalation of armed conflicts this infrastructure can be adapted for military purposes. Therefore, the implementation of the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" and “Act East” policies should currently be viewed not as attempts towards equal cooperation, but as a process of formation of two sizable military-economic alliances, revolving around China and India.

Keywords: Maritime Silk Road, great powers rivalry, port, Africa, Indian Ocean, China, India, navy, Asia and Africa Growth Corridor, grand strategy

Abstract: The focus of attention is the East African Community (EAC). This economic association of East African countries today includes the following countries: Burundi, the Rwanda Republic, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan. The author makes an effort to outline the trends in the economical and political integration of the EAC member countries after they achieved state sovereignty. Accent is made on how intense these trends are on various stages of the evolution of EAC and its potential to achieve a political unity between its member states within the respective borders of a federal state. Basing on the principle of historism and employing the method of historical reconstruction the author outlines the main determinants of the integration processes in East Africa. The author also points out the factors that counteract the formation of a federation and the emergence of a new subject of International Law in this region. Employing said methods allowed the author to make a substantiated conclusion that the formation of a sovereign federal state, based on the existing regional economic alliance (EAC), is impeded by the recently-emerged and potential tribal and religious conflict in East African countries. Social, cultural and linguistical diversity and growing ambition of the heads of state and the political elites.

Keywords: South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, East African Community, Africa, Federal state, Economic integration

Abstract: This article analyzes the three major crises in the history of Russia-NATO relations (1999, 2008 and 2014). Those crises were directly linked with the disagreements on the status of territories like Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Crimea. Analyzing each crisis in the succession, the author reaches for the reasons and draws attention to the fact that each time, disagreements between the two sides lead to a halt in cooperation, freezing of common programs and institutes. This, however, was successfully overcome during the course of the first two crises. The methodological basis of this research consists of systemic, structural-functional, comparative-historical, comparative-political, geopolitical and cultural-civilizational approaches, and methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, modeling and observation. From the author’s point of view, the crises demonstrate the fundamental differences of the two parties regarding the legal evaluation of core International Law, as it is present in U.N. legislation, and regarding the system of European security, in a period of a global system crisis. The author concludes that another quality level of partnership is needed, and that it is impossible to build a security system for Europe without, or against Russia.

Keywords: Conflict studies, foreign politics, international relations, international conflict, NATO, Russia, crisis, interests, values, security.