Posted on 01/25/2005 10:41:00 AM PST by lizol
RUSSIA NEEDS ALLIES TO SURVIVE IN GLOBALIZED WORLD
MOSCOW, January 25 (RIA Novosti) - The United States alone rivaled Moscow on post-Soviet territory only a few months ago. However, the Ukrainian crisis has changed geopolitical realities, as the European Union has become involved in stabilizing the former Soviet republics. Moreover, new EU member Poland has largely replaced the former France-Germany powerhouse when it comes to forming the EU's eastern policy, Alexander Rahr, director of the German foreign-policy's council of Russian and CIS programs, tells Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
The rift between the West and Russia continues to grow rapidly. The Russian-US anti-terrorist coalition has exhausted its potential. The US is now ready to defend independent post-Soviet republics from "imperial" Russia, [former Yukos CEO Mikhail] Khodorkovsky from the authorities' arbitrary rule and freedom of speech from Kremlin pressure. The next conflicts are self-evident: NATO expansion into Ukraine and Georgia, increased military presence in Central Asia, new oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian region bypassing Russia, and a possible war with Iran.
Relations between Russia and the EU are not much better. The "orange revolution" has again pitted the US and EU against "imperial" Russia. The EU flatly rejects President Putin's partnership based on common interests and the West demands that Russia accept a common European system of values. Russia faces the following clear dilemma. It should either accept European-style democratic standards, eventually integrating with Europe, or it should build its own civilization based on the strong-power concept that is alien to Europe. The EU might then see Russia as a country in mold of China.
Russia will not survive on its own in a globalized world. The EU is not Russia's enemy or rival. In reality, Europe also understands that it will be weak without Russia in the 21st century. Russia should fear India and China more. Moscow is arming these two countries at a breath-taking pace, even though these weapons may be used against Russia.
Modern Russia needs a liberal model, even if it differs from the Western model, but no authoritarianism.
Ping
Russia seriously needs to think about what it's doing by selling weapons to China. They may be getting cash, but it could prove to be a disaster.
If they will still thinking imperially then they will never find any allies.
"RUSSIA NEEDS ALLIES TO SURVIVE IN GLOBALIZED WORLD"
Exactly. Russia need close relations with US, Europe, Japan and the rest of civilized world, otherwise they will be overtaken by China in 20-30 years, however they have to treat other countries fair If they want to be a part of any serious alliance.
Russia is not a superpower anymore and they won't survive on their own, but it seems that Putin doesn't get - he thinks that Russia will be still an empire If he build a few new nuclear warheads.
Funny thing. This is a Russian article and I could signed it with both my hands.
I don't see what Russia has to fear from India. As far as China, well DUH! Even us stupid Americans can see that the massive Chinese migration to the Russian Far East leads in a particular direction.
Russia will always need allies. They are landlocked on the south and east. The Eastern Bloc, formerly the buffer/conduit between Russia and Europe is not in place as a Russian satellite any longer. Also, the distinction between aligned and non-aligned third world nations no longer bears any particular significance and those nations no longer need to play off the US against the Russians in hopes of more and better aid, priority, influence, etc..... All this apart from the Russian 'not so thriving' economy.
Maybe there is still some hope for Russia.
Ping!
Easy Gary, the have already been pinged.
These ideas are put forward by a German speaking on behalf of the EU.
The explicit message is that Russia should beware of allying itself with China or India, but instead should ally with the EU.
The hidden message, however, is that Russia should get over it's love affair with the United States. Notice that passage about the US-Russian alliance against terrorism being effectively "over."
In other words, Russia should distance itself from the United States and move closer to Europe.
So I wouldn't get to warm and fuzzy about this piece. The old blocs broke up in 1989, and the major powers or would-be powers are still looking around and deciding on the next alliance. The EU, I fear, is eager to weaken and isolate the U.S., and not because of anything that George Bush has said or done. Their underlying motive is that they want to be in the middle of things and call the shots.
Not all of them, I'm not going to ping jb6, because - as I wrote once - to discuss with him is like to discuss with a wall. Same result.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much corruption in Russia.
The problem is, USSR didn't get 'defeated' and stamped out completely, and start from scratch.
Its sorta' creek and crack, and fell on its side, and crumbled, but there is ALOT of BS left behind that was brought in the "new government".
The people themselves are by nature nationalist (almost as much as americans can be), but they tire of slow economy which is plagued by corruption. All 3 combine to give Putin a 'pass' to do some iron fist stuff IF it improves in the long run.
In short, the Russians, due to history, are more willing to give up certain freedoms for reform and security, than Ameicans are.
Do they want allies or lapdogs?
America is nobody's lapdog.
I suggested that? When?
"Russia should fear India and China more"
China, yes. India, well... there were strong ties between the USSR and India for many years...
Historically speaking, Russians should be wary of "western" Europeans. The question for the EU is how far the Russians will allow them to push into the "russian west" before they react in some way. With the recent events in the Ukraine, the answer seems to be, pretty far! On the other hand, the Russians have a "resource card" that they can play on the EU without having to resort to a military option. Even a short boycott of the EU by Russia could really hurt their economies.
The author must see Putin as the latter, not the former.
Assisting Iran in its development of missiles and nuclear weapons is not the way to Win Friends and Influence People.
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