Russian success in using forums: A regional forum with an international flavor begin to rise in the Northern Caucasus

It seems like Russia has become expert in holding and hosting International Forums that deal with issues and topics that concern the world, as it manages to provides indications of increased societal activism and civil institutions.

The efforts of the United States and its allies have miserably failed in their attempts to isolate Russia and remove it from the international stage, as it has become clear that the repercussions of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including sanctions, media campaigns, and social media pressure to weaken Russia, and even attempts to expel it from the international stage and neutralize its influence in the world, have all proven futile.

Instead, Russia has possibly become more formidable on all fronts and is reconsidering its various tools to develop its methods and update its approach regarding its presence on the international stage and its impact on global issues.

The Russian diplomatic and political society, started for a while now to modernize its tools of soft power, surpassing an era of old Soviet Union methods, and provide indications that Russia’s tool started for a couple of years now to be more advance, in terms of laying influence on the international stage.

The hosting of forums and international conferences in Russia has become a natural occurrence, with Russian cities hosting regional and international forums and conferences in various fields every month.

The fields of interests, includes economics, security, politics, culture, art, and sports, all of which have a presence and strong position in Russia and its regional dominion.

Regarding recent events, the International North Caucasus Forum held in the Russian region of Stavropol on October 13-14 stands out.

The forum, titled “The North Caucasus in the Axis of International Cooperation in Russia,” was attended by over 160 representatives from government entities at all levels, diplomatic missions, development institutions, educational and scientific organizations, cultural figures, young scientists, senior experts, and Russian and foreign scholars.

The North Caucasus Federal District is a significant hub in public diplomacy, resulting in a current trade volume of $3.6 billion.

It has also established close relationships in the fields of culture, education, and tourism.

Discussions at the forum included changes in the global political and economic landscape, prompting the need to develop Russian international interactions with other countries, open avenues for optimal investment in various areas, particularly in the international economy and the challenges of increased international demand for supply chain methods.

Given that the North Caucasus region serves as a unique center connecting the East to the West and the North to the South, discussions leaned towards constructing new transport corridors, logistics, and production chains.

Additionally, challenges in the cultural communication and educational activities were addressed, as education and scientific resources are fundamental to shaping the value of the region’s and the world’s economy.

Africa played a significant role in the event, with the forum discussing priority areas for Russian-African partnership, focusing on education, science, tourism, diplomacy, cultural exchange, modern international relations, and the role of media in shaping the image of countries in the modern media landscape.

Economic issues of urgency were also addressed, as the upcoming international economic scene will witness, in the coming years, major changes with the rise of the economies of a number of countries in the region to the ranks of major countries, in addition to the rise of major blocs such as the BRICS group.

On the other hand, signs of collapse appear in the economies of a number of countries that have been in control of the International economic stage for decades.

Accordingly, one of the most important challenges to confront these changes has become achieving more communication, coordination and exchange of experiences, in addition to educating new generations and preparing them to assume responsibilities in the coming decades.

The forum presented a series of sessions featuring experts and participating guests in various fields, including:

• General Session: “The North Caucasus at the Center of International Cooperation in Russia”
• Experts Session: “International Cooperation: Russia – Africa”
• Experts Session: “Competitive Education and Modern Sciences”
• Experts Session: “The North Caucasus – Hospitality Region”
• Experts Session: “Cultural Diplomacy in Global Modernity”
• Experts Session: “Global Transportation Routes and Logistics Centers”
• Experts Session: “The Role of Mass Communication Dissemination in Shaping Quality in Contemporary Media”

The forum hosted delegations from a wide range of countries, particularly regionally.

The conference welcomed delegations from various Russian entities and delegations from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Syria, Iran, and others. Additionally, delegations from African countries participated.

In the coming period, this forum will become larger and more momentum as the regional and international picture crystallizes, and a number of countries in the world and the region in particular begin to realize the extent of the changes in power and influence, and what this requires in terms of amending policies and changing the course of the compass.

The forum was organized by the North Caucasus Institute, a branch of RANEPA, with the support of the Gorchakov Foundation, the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus Federal District, and the General Chamber of the Russian Union.

It is evident that the North Caucasus region, given its status and importance, will continue to be a permanent center for upcoming, more robust and dynamic sessions.

It will serve as an open platform for experts, international activists, civil society institutions, and businesses to discuss issues related to the development priorities of the country as a whole and the strategic importance of the North Caucasus region.

By transforming this forum and its previous sessions into an important international and regional forum, added to the calendar of forums and events hosted by Russia, it has become clear that there is a major shift that has begun to take shape towards a new approach in Russia’s dealings with various issues and its return to influence the international arena in a more influential way, going beyond thus, all attempts at isolation proved unsuccessful.

Someone in Russia says that the countries that impose sanctions on Russia and try by various means to isolate it from the world and deprive it of influence, and mobilize media against it, along with attempts to block the Russian voice from reaching the ears of the world, have all failed, at a time when the interests of some of these countries push to keep windows of communication with Russia open behind the scenes.