As part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships, TRENDS Global, through its Russia Office and under the umbrella of TRENDS Group, signed a strategic research and media cooperation memorandum with Russia’s Sputnik news agency. The agreement aims to enhance knowledge exchange and foster collaboration in the production of research papers, media, and analytical studies, as well as public opinion surveys, specialized training programs, and expert advisory services.
Signed on the sidelines of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia, the agreement seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge and research data between the two sides and deepen cooperation in analyzing regional and international issues and exploring their future trajectories. It is also designed to enhance the quality and diversity of research and media content by launching joint research initiatives and projects, and by organizing conferences, seminars, and specialized training programs that facilitate the exchange of skills and expertise.
Deepening Effective Partnership
Awadh Al-Breiki, General Manager of TRENDS Global, said that cooperation with Sputnik news agency represents an important step and a valuable addition to TRENDS Global’s network of international partnerships. He noted that the agreement will deepen the effective partnership between the two sides in research, analytical, and media fields while maximizing the benefit of the expertise and specialists available to both institutions, thereby supporting knowledge-based foresight.
He explained that the memorandum focuses on integrating policy and event analysis tools with media publishing platforms, creating a new model of collaboration between research and think tank institutions and international media organizations. He added that both parties will also work to produce research and develop scenarios for future joint projects, particularly in areas related to the impact of AI on knowledge production, technological transformation, and transcontinental hybrid conflicts.
Al-Breiki further noted that, under the agreement, TRENDS will provide Sputnik with its latest in-depth analyses to enrich the agency’s media content. In turn, Sputnik will support the dissemination of TRENDS’ research, studies, and publications by expanding their global reach. Sputnik operates multimedia news and broadcasting centers that provide news services in 30 languages and cover more than 34 countries worldwide.
Analyzing Geopolitical Tensions
Vasily Pushkov, Director of International Cooperation at Sputnik, emphasized that the world is currently experiencing a turbulent transitional phase marked by escalating geopolitical tensions and a shift in the concept of power toward “hybrid warfare,” which combines military operations, cyberattacks, and information warfare. He noted that these developments have made the global landscape increasingly complex, underscoring the need for stronger media and research cooperation to analyze these complexities and better understand the interconnections among global issues.
He added that Sputnik’s memorandum of cooperation with TRENDS establishes a practical framework for transforming today’s global challenges into joint research and media opportunities. This will be reflected in enhanced knowledge exchange and a broader understanding of international developments through high-impact projects and initiatives that examine AI’s impact on international security and stability, while also advancing foresight capabilities through interactive workshops that bring together researchers and journalists to analyze current events.
