MGIMO International

🏆 MGIMO — Champion of the XXV Rector’s Cup in Mini-Football On June 7, the XXV Rector’s Cup in mini-football, dedicated to Russia Day, took place at the University’s football stadium. For the first time, the MGIMO team became the tournament champion. ⚽️ The competition featured 32 teams representing diplomats of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies of foreign countries in Russia:

Azerbaijan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Venezuela, Vietnam, Indonesia, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Laos, UAE, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ecuador; as well as the Latin American teams "Atlético World" and "Unión Internacional" (which united representatives from Ecuador, Yemen, Chad, Benin, Madagascar); the team "Krasny Molot" (Red Hammer), which has participated in the tournament since 2001 (most of its players are the now-grown children of MGIMO graduates — the team was founded by German citizens under the steady captaincy of A. Schumann); the team of the general sponsor — Snegiri Development company; and the team of the University’s professors and staff.

⚡️ At noon, the opening ceremony and parade of participants were held on the pitch. To the march of the orchestra of the Military University of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the teams marched in front of the guest of honor tribune carrying national flags and signs of their countries; the parade was led by the referee team from the Moscow Football Federation. 🎤 As is tradition, the ceremony was opened by Anatoly Torkunov, MGIMO Rector, RAS Academician, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

He warmly greeted everyone gathered at the University stadium and reminded that

the first Rector’s Cup in 2001

featured

15 teams

from foreign embassies, while

this year there are 32,

proving the tournament generates interest and attracts more sports enthusiasts.

💬 Tanju Bilgiç, tournament’s guest of honor, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

The Ambassador noted that he is glad to be at

MGIMO — a leading university and a forge of diplomats

; he also welcomed everyone, wished the participants a good game, and thanked the University Rector for inviting the Embassy team to take part in the tournament.

🌐 Ramil Sanatullov, General Director of Snegiri Development — the tournament’s long-time sponsor — noted that sport unites people of different nationalities. On behalf of the University, he was presented with a letter of gratitude from the Rector addressed to the founder of the company, Alexander Chigirinsky, for many years of support for the competition. ⭐️ Sergey Khusainov, legendary Soviet and Russian footballer, FIFA referee, a guest of honor at the event, greeted the participants and guests of the Rector’s Cup, remarking that football is more than just a game; the flying ball captures the attention of people from different nationalities, fostering friendship and unity. 🏆 All participants and distinguished guests received from the University and the general sponsor participant diplomas for the XXV Rector’s Cup and commemorative prizes — T-shirts and souvenirs with the emblems of MGIMO, the XXV Rector’s Cup, and the sponsor’s logo — Snegiri.

🥇

The champion

of the anniversary XXV Rector’s Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history is

the MGIMO team!

🥈

The silver prize

went to the team of the tournament’s general sponsor —

Snegiri company.

🥉

Third place

also for the first time in the competition’s history went to

the Embassy of Cambodia team

— the largest team in the tournament’s opening parade.

Congratulations to the winners and prize-winners, and thank you to all teams for participating! 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) | МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

⭐The First Season of the International Applicants Club: Results We’re Proud Of As the academic year comes to an end, so does the first season of the MGIMO International Applicants Club. It feels like only yesterday, back in October, that we opened the Club’s doors to young people from around the world who dreamed of building their future with MGIMO. Today, it has grown into a vibrant international community bringing together over 240 participants from 72 countries! Over the past eight months, we have shared an exciting journey and organized around 40 events: ✅ attended lectures delivered by MGIMO professors, ✅ joined presentations by schools and student organizations, ✅ took part in quizzes, competitions, workshops, round tables, and consultations, ✅ and even met in person twice — in Astana and Bishkek. 🚀 What makes us especially happy is that for many participants, the Club has become a real starting point on their path to university. Around 100 students have applied to MGIMO’s undergraduate programs, and 34 participants have already successfully passed the selection procedures. We are sincerely proud of every one of you!

A special chapter in the Club’s story was the Ranking Competition. The winners earned the opportunity to participate in the Vitaly Churkin Moscow International Model UN, while the runners-up received access to an intensive university admissions preparation course. And, of course, all participants received commemorative certificates from the International Applicants Club.

🤝 But the people have been the most valuable part of this journey. Throughout these months, we stayed connected, shared experiences, asked questions, supported one another, and built lasting friendships. We thank everyone who has already become part of this story and look forward to welcoming new members to our growing community! Fill out the participant application form via the link. P.S. We’ve gathered the participants’ impressions and experiences here. The best is yet to come! ❤️ #InternationalApplicantsClub 🔎 More details about MGIMO on our website. 🌐MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев

💛 MGIMO Volunteers at SPIEF-2026 From June 3 to 6, the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) took place at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together representatives of government, business, international organizations, and expert communities from around the world. 👨‍👩‍👦 The MGIMO volunteer team arrived in St. Petersburg ahead of time to undergo training and begin working at one of the country’s largest international platforms. ⚡️ This year, MGIMO volunteers were primarily involved in delegation accompaniment and congress management, providing organizational and protocol support to forum participants. Among the most significant areas of their work was accompanying foreign guests and representatives of international organizations. ⭐️ Anastasia Plisova (4th-year Bachelor's student in International Relations), Team Leader of the MGIMO Volunteer Center, accompanied Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, who took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the first time. ⭐️ Maria Mitova (2nd-year Master’s student in Linguistics) provided support for the delegation of the Colombia-Russia Chamber of Commerce and the Committee on International Affairs of the Chamber of Representatives of the Republic of Colombia, as well as Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, First Deputy Minister of Communications of the Republic of Cuba. ⭐️ Anastasia Krivenkova (2nd-year Bachelor's student in International Journalism) accompanied the official delegation of the Republic of Belarus, headed by Yury Seliverstov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation. 🏦 In the "Congress" function, MGIMO volunteers took part in preparing and conducting key events of the forum’s business program.

Notably, team leaders Eva Melikyan (4th-year Bachelor's student in International Relations) and Altynai Shamatova (3rd-year Bachelor's student in International Relations) worked on the session “Global Energy Systems: How the World Energy Sector Responds to Challenges and Risks” with the participation of OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, as well as the session “Chemistry – the Energy of Life,” which featured Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, as a speaker.

💙 The MGIMO Volunteer Center extends its gratitude to the Roscongress Foundation for its trust and for the opportunity to once again be part of one of the year’s largest international events. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🌐 MGIMO at the Youth Day of the SPIEF-2026: Session "Youth Laboratory of the New World Order" On June 6, as part of the SPIEF-2026 Youth Day "Day of the Future," a project session "The Future World: Youth Laboratory of the New World Order" was held. The session was organized by the MGIMO International Marketing Group and the Department of Youth Policy in partnership with the ANO "Directorate of the World Youth Festival." The speakers at the session included:

💛 Artem Novikov, Chairman of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund; 💛 Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Directorate of the World Youth Festival"; 💛 Konstantin Kolpakov, Head of the Department for Sports, Youth Cooperation and Tourism of the Department of Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations (DMGKK) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 💛 Sasha Jost, RT Documentary correspondent, US-based blogger (creator of the channel "Sasha Meets Russia"); 💛 Aleksandar Ostojić, Program Director of the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad, Project Manager of the BIO4 scientific cluster in Belgrade, participant in Rossotrudnichestvo's "New Generation" program. 💛 The moderator was Elizaveta Rudenko, Head of the MGIMO International Marketing.

💛 Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work and International Relations, delivered a welcome address to the participants. 💛 More than 100 people took part in the event, including foreign representatives of the Rossotrudnichestvo delegation – participants in the "New Generation" program. 💛 During group work in a brainstorming format, session participants, together with the experts, discussed potential projects that could help address the issues raised by the experts.

Proposed projects included the creation of permanent international youth organizations and online platforms for youth interaction, analytical studies on the role of the UN and classical diplomacy in the modern world, and the development of a system to harmonize the movement of agricultural goods within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

💛 The event's organizational support was provided by active MGIMO students under the leadership of Mariam Khubieva, Deputy Head of the Project Office of the Department of Youth Policy and Coordinator of the Volunteer Center. We extend our gratitude to our colleagues from the ANO "Directorate of the World Youth Festival" and the Roscongress Foundation for their assistance in arranging and holding the session! 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

The session participants are working on projects aimed at solving today’s global challenges 🔥

⚡️“Future World: Youth Laboratory of the New World Order” — the session is on fire right now! 🎙️Speech by Artyom Novikov, Chairman of the Board of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund

MGIMO Sports Map: How Diplomats Train ⚽️ We continue to lift the veil on #MGIMOinside. Today, we're talking about how future diplomats stay fit, stay healthy, and channel all that adrenaline built up over the semester.

💪After all, negotiating with an opponent is also a sport. The weight class is just different. And to be ready for any challenge, MGIMO has everything you need. Here is our guide to the sports locations where students and staff train not just their brains, but their muscles as well. Spoiler: a 50% discount for MGIMO club member applies at all venues! 🏸

➡️Outdoors: At your disposal — tennis courts, a mini-football pitch, volleyball and basketball courts, a full-size football field, and smooth running tracks. ➡️ Indoor Sport Complex offers: ❤️Wrestling hall — hone your moves for negotiations with particularly tough opponents; 🎯Shooting range — practice precision, composure, and the ability to stay focused; 🇷🇺Aerobics studio — grace and flexibility, even after three double periods of macroeconomics; 🏸Tennis courts (yes, they have them indoors too) and ping-pong tables — the battle for the school champion title starts here; 🏟Multi-purpose sports hall — for any group sports activities. 💪Fitness room — the center of all.

Dumbbell racks, barbells, bench presses, squat racks, a crossover cable machine, pull-down stations, and a full set of cardio equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes).

🏊‍♀️ Pool and sauna as a form of meditation

The indoor 25-meter pool washes everything away: a failed diplomacy history test, fatigue, and doubts

.

📌 Now you know where future leaders train not just their language skills, but also their willpower. And we haven't even shared all the sports clubs that operate at our sports complex yet! But let’s leave it for next time 💙 Leadership in life begins with leadership in sports! 👆Join us to study with the team of the best ones. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🔥 Join the MGIMO International Applicants Club ➡️ Fill out the form via the link and take the first step towards becoming a MGIMO student. 🎓 You can also submit your application for Bachelor's and Master's programs here: int-adm.mgimo.ru (for Bachelor's) and intma.mgimo.ru (for Master's). 💙 We can't wait to welcome you to the MGIMO student community! Learn more about MGIMO on our website. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🇷🇺 How Are International Students Building Connections with Russia? This question was at the heart of a speech delivered by Stanislav Surovtsev, MGIMO Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Ties, during the panel discussion “Transmitting Values Abroad: Tools, Practices, and Artifacts” held on June 3 during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

The discussion brought together: ⚪ Stanislav Surovtsev, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy, Social Work, and International Ties at MGIMO University; ⚪ Irina Kraeva, Rector of Moscow State Linguistic University; ⚪ Sergey Krikalev, Deputy Director General for Manned Space Programs at Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities; ⚪ Natalia Tretyak, CEO of the Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations "Vyzov"; ⚪ Boris Khanchalyan, Deputy Director General of Gazprom-Media Holding; ⚪ Viktor Karezin, Director of Educational Programmes, Human Resources Management Department at Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation; ⚪ Oleg Rogov, Head of the Trusted and Secure Intelligent Systems Group at the AIRI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Associate Professor at MTUCI. ⚪ Austrian conductor Wolfgang Scheidt joined the discussion online. The session was moderated by Maria Matveeva, Director of "Sochi Dialogue" Russian-Austrian Forum.

🌐 Stanislav Surovtsev noted that MGIMO today is not only a recognized training ground for future diplomats, but also one of Russia’s leading centers of expertise in working with international students and applicants. The University is home to approximately 1,500 international students from more than 90 countries, while its global student and alumni community remains one of MGIMO’s greatest strengths. 🔹 According to the Vice-Rector, efforts to engage international students with Russia’s values begin long before enrollment. This is achieved through MGIMO’s positioning as a university that educates future global leaders, as well as through outreach initiatives such as MGIMO Days Abroad and the International Applicants Club.

At the same time, it is essential not merely to communicate values, but to create an environment in which students gain their own positive experience of interacting with Russia. This is why international students are actively involved in volunteer, patriotic, educational, and cultural projects.

🤝 Stanislav Surovtsev also emphasized that successful integration is impossible without respect for the cultural identity of international students themselves. At MGIMO, this goal is supported, among other initiatives, by the MGIMO Association of International Students. ❗️Finally, a key role is played by the University’s strong corporate identity — the well-known “MGIMO Family.” Through this community, a student’s connection with the University gradually develops into a lasting connection with Russia. Such personal, professional, and human experiences transform graduates of Russian universities into genuine friends and partners of our country. We thank our colleagues for this insightful discussion. At a time when traditional formats of international engagement are undergoing profound transformation, education remains one of the most reliable channels for dialogue and mutual understanding. 🌐MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

⚡️ Admissions for international students for the 2026–2027 academic year are now open! You can already submit your documents online for Russian-taught and English-taught Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Preparatory Faculty programs. #️⃣BACHELOR’S DEGREE ✔️Register and fill out the applicant form here: https://int-adm.mgimo.ru/auth/register; ✔️Upload your documents online to your personal account; ✔️Wait for the admissions committee to review your documents and send you an invitation to the selection events, which will also be held online. #️⃣MASTER’S DEGREE ✔️Register in the applicant’s personal account here: https://intma.mgimo.ru/; ✔️Upload the required documents in e-format; ✔️Wait for the admissions committee to review your documents; ✔️Receive an invitation to the selection events, which will also take place online. #️⃣PREPARATORY FACULTY ✔️Register here: https://int-prep.mgimo.ru/register/; ✔️Choose Russian or English language courses; ✔️Wait for a response from the program coordinator. ❗️We recommend registering and starting your document submission now to resolve any potential questions or issues in advance. 👉 You can always find general information about admission to MGIMO, its faculties, and programs on our website for international applicants. See you at the alma mater of world leaders! #admissioncampaign 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🇮🇳🇷🇺MGIMO Delegation Took Part in the Second Russian‑Indian Education Summit 🖥On 28–29 May, the Second Indo‑Russian Education Summit and Exhibition took place in New Delhi, bringing together over 70 leading universities from the two countries. 👥At the opening ceremony, H.E. Denis Alipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to India, stated:

“Russia and India intend to make education one of the enduring pillars of their bilateral partnership, as both sides share a strong mutual interest in exchanging educational standards.”

💬 Pavel Shevtsov, Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, called the summit an “unprecedented platform for transformative dialogue” – a necessary condition for building long‑term humanitarian ties. 🗒As part of the thematic session “International Youth Cooperation”, Elizaveta Rudenko, Head of International Marketing, presented MGIMO’s approach to fostering international youth cooperation, which is built on five core values: ⏺engagement across a wide range of disciplines; ⏺studying 56 foreign languages as a key to understanding other peoples and cultures; ⏺cultivating a culture of debate and negotiation; ⏺honing collaboration skills through practice‑oriented courses; ⏺strengthening the community of students and alumni from over 90 countries worldwide. 🤍MGIMO begins involving international youth in cross‑border interaction as early as their school years. Projects for international school students include: ✅the MGIMO International Applicants Сlub; ✅the MGIMO International School Olympiad; ✅short‑term study programs. 🎓 At the following exhibition, which attracted over 550 prospective students, MGIMO representatives interacted with Indian schoolchildren and their parents. Many are already learning Russian and take a keen interest in international affairs, especially in the context of India’s BRICS presidency this year. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

“MGIMO Days” in New Delhi: recap 🇮🇳🇷🇺

🌐 Continuing our #MGIMOinside series about student organizations at MGIMO University, today we’re telling you about the Student Research Society! 🔬 The MGIMO Student Research Society (SRS) brings together the most ambitious and forward-thinking students at the university — those ready to create major projects, conduct large-scale research, and shape the future of student science. ⚡️The SRS mission is to create opportunities for students to grow and get involved in research. Many people think science is boring and disconnected from real life. But even if you don’t plan to pursue a scientific career, the skills it develops — working with data, academic writing, and expressing ideas clearly — are valuable in any profession. The SRS unites 47 student clubs. Broadly, they fall into two categories: 📌 Functional clubs (focused on politics, business, ecology, PR, and more); 📌 Regional clubs, which focus on a specific region or language. 💡 The SRS organizes the annual international research forum MGIMO New-Sci Generation Symposium and publishes the International Aspect research journal of the School of International Relations. As part of the Student Research Society, students:

🔵 independently carry out large-scale projects with university support; 🔵 hold meetings with leading experts in various fields; 🔵 take part in student research forums and conferences across Russia; 🔵 connect with potential employers and complete internships; 🔵 gain experience in event management and make new friends.

👉 Want to build a career in research with us? Submit your application right now via the link. 💙 We look forward to welcoming you to the ranks of MGIMO’s most progressive students! Learn more about MGIMO on our website. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

“MGIMO Days” in New Delhi: How It Was 🇷🇺🤝🇮🇳 On 26 and 27 May, the capital of India hosted “MGIMO Days”, bringing together more than 200 school and university students dreaming of a career in international relations and of entering the alma mater of world leaders. 👉 On 26 May, the grand opening of “MGIMO Days” took place at the Russian House in New Delhi. The honorary guests were Roman Babushkin, Minister‑Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in India, and Elena Remizova, head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in New Delhi. Roman Babushkin, graduate of the MGIMO School of International Relations’04, delivered a welcoming address to the event participants:

“MGIMO is not just a university, it is a door that opens the whole world to you.” The diplomat recalled famous alumni of the university – ministers, ambassadors, heads of state and major corporations – and also highlighted the unprecedented level of specialist training that remains the University’s hallmark: “Today MGIMO trains professionals capable of solving the most complex problems at the intersection of politics, economics and law.”

📌 Elizaveta Rudenko, Head of the MGIMO International Marketing, told prospective students about the academic programs and opportunities for international students. 💡Participants were able to test their knowledge in an interactive quiz “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between Russia and India”, conducted by Victoria Sosnitskaya, Public Relations Specialist of the International Marketing Group. The most active participants received memorable souvenirs from the “MGIMO International” collection. 📚 Schoolchildren showed particular interest in a lecture by Ekaterina Bostoganashvili, Deputy Dean of the School of International Business and Senior Lecturer at the I.N. Gerchikova Department of Management, Marketing and Foreign Economics. She highlighted the specifics of cross-cultural communication in business negotiations and spoke about the opportunities that the School of International Business offers to its students and graduates. 👉 On 27 May, MGIMO representatives held presentation and interactive sessions at the Russian Embassy School in India and at the University of Delhi. ⭐️️Experts, participants and organisers agreed that “MGIMO Days” in New Delhi proved to be an effective platform for developing youth dialogue, educational cooperation between Russia and India, and for strengthening the long‑standing friendship between the peoples of our countries. We thank the Russian Embassy in India, the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in New Delhi, and all colleagues who contributed to organising “MGIMO Days” in India for their support! #MGIMODays Learn more about MGIMO on our website. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🌐 Today, in our #MGIMOschools series, we are covering the Master’s program "Global Agrarian Markets" — a unique educational track for those who want to become experts in the field of international agribusiness. The program is run by the Institute of Global Agrarian Markets at MGIMO, in partnership with Stavropol State Agrarian University and Kuban State Agrarian University. During their studies, students take part in a practical field module, which includes visits to leading agricultural enterprises in Russia. #️⃣ The "Global Agrarian Markets" Master’s program trains top-tier specialists capable of representing their countries’ interests on global agricultural markets and effectively managing processes within the agro-industrial complex. 🎓 Key advantages of the program include:

✔ Modern teaching methods adapted to the fast-paced nature of the agricultural sector; ✔ Fluency in professional terminology and international negotiation skills; ✔ A practical approach to managing international trade and production; ✔ Job opportunities at leading industry companies and government agencies; ✔ Study of foreign languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, Turkish, French, Spanish, English, and others!

📚 Students in the "Global Agrarian Markets" Master’s program study: 🔴 Marketing and International Management; 🔴 Global Agrarian Markets and Commodity Exchanges; 🔴 Organization of export supplies and development of export strategies; 🔴 Fundamentals of diplomacy and diplomatic protocol. 👤 A graduate of the program is a specialist who:

✅

Understands global trends and innovations in agriculture;

✅

Has tools for risk management in agriculture;

✅

Can analyze market and the international political environment.

⛓️‍💥 Learn more about the "Global Agrarian Markets" program here. To become an in-demand professional right now — submit your application via the link and join the team of future leaders! Learn more about MGIMO on our website. 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🇷🇺🇰🇿 MGIMO University and Astana Diplomatic Club Discussed Global Trends in International Relations On May 25, MGIMO jointly with the Astana Diplomatic Club held an online master class titled “The Architecture and Architects of the Modern World Order: MGIMO and Astana on Global Trends in International Relations.”

More than 80 school and university students from Kazakhstan and other countries took part in the event, gaining insight into key trends in international relations through MGIMO’s academic expertise and educational approaches.

🌐The first part of the master class focused on the “architects” of the new world order — leaders shaping the international agenda — as well as on MGIMO’s role as an institution training specialists capable of managing global processes. Participants learned about study opportunities, career paths, and future prospects for aspiring international affairs professionals. 📚In the second part of the event, Alexander Chekov, lecturer at the Department of International Relations and Russian Foreign Policy and Academic Supervisor of the MGIMO Space Diplomacy Club, delivered a lecture on the “architecture” of the modern world order. The lecture covered the evolution of the international system, the key challenges of today, and possible scenarios for the further development of global processes.

Particular interest was generated by the discussion on t

he future of international organizations, integration associations,

and

the role of public diplomacy

in overcoming the current crisis in international relations.

We sincerely believe that such events make MGIMO’s expertise more accessible to a broad international audience, create a platform for open knowledge exchange, help young people better understand contemporary global processes, and contribute to the formation of a professional community of future specialists in international relations. ❗️We express our special gratitude to Alexander Chekov for his profound and insightful lecture, as well as to all the participants for their genuine interest and engaging questions. We would also like to thank Kaiyrbolat Sakhmetov, Head of the Astana Diplomatic Club — we are confident that this is only the beginning of a long and productive partnership. 🔎 More details about MGIMO on our website. 🌐MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)

🚀Space: will it become a realm of shared human development or a new arena for strategic rivalry? Where, up there, does the line between cooperation and competition lie — and does it even exist? This and much more was discussed on May 22 during the lecture "Space: A Realm of Cooperation or Rivalry?", organized by the MGIMO International Applicants Club together with the Space Diplomacy Club.

Alexander Chekov, Academic Supervisor of the Space Diplomacy Club and lecturer at the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia, discussed with future MGIMO students the prospects of space exploration, its growing role in global politics, and the key challenges of the future.

Here are the main takeaways from the lecture: On the history of space exploration ⭐The launch of the first satellite and Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight marked the starting point of the space era. Today, these events are commemorated annually in Russia during Space Week. ⭐From the very beginning, space developed in two directions: as a realm of scientific discovery and as an arena for military-technological rivalry. ⭐Space technologies largely emerged as an extension of military missile programs. For a long time, space development was closely linked to the military sphere: reconnaissance satellites, communication and navigation systems. ⭐Later, the international community embraced the idea of the peaceful exploration of space. The Outer Space Treaty emerged, along with the first initiatives to limit military confrontation beyond Earth. Gradually, civilian and scientific uses of space began to prevail over military ones. ➡Today, space has become an integral part of everyday life — from communications and navigation to digital infrastructure. Humanity's dependence on space technologies continues to grow. Space and modern conflicts ⭐At the same time, the nature of military confrontation is changing. The outcome of modern conflicts increasingly depends on the ability to disable an adversary's digital systems, including their space-based components. ➡Space is becoming a critically important part of global infrastructure and a factor of national security. Characteristics of outer space ⭐Space has no state borders, so any crises can have global consequences. ⭐The rapid increase in the number of satellites — currently over 10,000 — creates new risks, including the threat of major accidents and space debris. Key development trends ➡The role of space in global politics and the economy will only increase. ➡Along with this, the militarization of outer space is intensifying, and the likelihood of conflicts is growing.

Russia and China advocate for an international treaty banning the placement of weapons in space, while the United States and EU countries view space as a potential domain for military operations.

➡As a result, the attention of states, international organizations, and the public to the space agenda continues to grow. The questions the students asked after the lecture touched on Mars exploration, "soft power" in space, and even the personal qualities of a "space diplomat." We thank Alexander Chekov for the engaging discussion, and all the guests for their lively interest in the topic of space and their active participation! #InternationalApplicantsClub 🌐 MGIMO International (ENG) / МГИМО для иностранцев (RUS)