It's a difficult position for Russia to be in, given the water fights between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in particular, and Russia has to be quite careful as to who it's seen to be backing, says James Nixey.
Daniel Drezner, a professor of international politics at Tufts University, told an audience at Chatham House that realpolitik dictated that the US should let the regime in Syria and its opponents fight it out, so that Iran is bled dry through supporting its ally.
There are consequences in the real world for people living in countries and China is beginning to realize China needs to take account of that, says Roderic Wye.
Clearly, there is a sort of tension [in Russia] between the need to be a great, large force versus a modern, technologically equipped force that is capable of dealing with current security issues, says James Nixey.
Rod Wye thinks [Vice President Xi Jinping and First Vice Premier Li Keqiang] will be the only current members of the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee to remain on the powerful ruling body.
Robin Niblett says he believes that there would have been been genuine 'relief' at Downing Street following Tuesday night's result.
There were many more people in Pakistan who didn't want Obama re-elected than anywhere else in the world, says Farzana Shaikh.
The question of where continuity will take the United States, and what will have to change, still remains, writes Xenia Dormandy.
The economy is in a dreadful state and they've actually got no real basis for being able to finance government operations, says David Butter.
Those fleeing complain of crippling inflation... 'A canister of cooking gas could cost you 10, 20 or 30 times higher than before because the only way of getting it is through the black market,' says David Butter.
My expectation, after [decades] of dictatorship, is for Syrian society to emerge a little bit blinded by the light, very diverse, with lots of different ideas, and I consider this to be healthy, says Nadim Shehadi.
Americans feel that domestic issues are by far the most important... As far as foreign policy goes, it's a pass or fail, they expect the president to pass a bar, but beyond that it doesn't matter, says Xenia Dormandy.
The Gulf states are unnerved by the ease with which the US and UK have shifted towards engaging with the Muslim Brotherhood in North Africa, says Jane Kinninmont.
This latest move would seem to increase the likelihood of the royal succession moving to the third generation earlier than many expected, says Jane Kinninmont.
Obama is more of a European-type leader. He resonates here very well, in a way that may cost him at home, says Xenia Dormandy.
Radicalization is increasing. This is a major development in the course of events in the country. It.s unlikely any foreign power was involved in the blasts, says Jane Kinninmont.
With almost all the oil that is going through the Strait of Hormuz heading for Asia, it means continuity of supply from there is not an issue for the US any more. It is an Asian problem, says John Mitchell.
Romney talks about a strong, exceptional America, a leading America. And he talks about increasing defense spending. All of those things are things that make Europeans a little bit nervous, noted Xenia Dormandy.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, meanwhile, took the opportunity Thursday to tell an audience at Chatham House that there was 'no hope' of a cut in the EU budget.