Russia and the West
Ahmed Hany
May 21, 2010
For the first time US and other NATO troops shared in the military parade in Moscow. No one has ever thought about it even after the fall of the Soviet Union. At the same time Russia helps NATO in Afghanistan by allowing the US air forces to use the Russian air field for logistic purposes. The Russian president Medvedev criticized the violation of human right experienced by the Soviet Union openly and President Obama and the White House hailed his word few hours later.
The recent Greece monetary crisis and the steps taken by EU Financial Ministers Council to save the union showed important facts that added to Russian scores when dealing with the West in general. Few years ago there was a debate in the EU political circles to choose between extending the union to the Eastern European countries giving them full partnership or accelerating partnership and neighborhood policies with Southern Mediterranean countries. Germany chose to direct the union towards the first option and financed the process. France and other Southern European countries tried to create the stillbirth Mediterranean Union that suffers from the Middle East problem. Germany was reluctant to save Greece and even a German MP wanted the Greece to sell some of its islands. However the Germans agreed to the EU financial plans not only to save the EU small member but also to pump about a billion Euros to stabilize stocks markets in Europe.
Any new financial crisis in big European countries like Spain or Italy may devastate risqué plans and recovery in Europe threatening the Euro and the integrity of the union. Simply this gives Russia the main energy suppliers more strength when dealing with the West and NATO. This adds to Moscow´s relative power to be in the future strategic triad with the EU and the US after its military and energy deals with Ukraine.
The question is whether the US-EU-Russia partnership boosts the Middle East peace and nuclear disarmament process or not? First does their partnership need prosperous Middle East or just frozen and calm Middle East? Russia needs markets as it is still far from being an active competitor in the European markets. The traditional Russian arms sales and machines need customers in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Russian companies need projects in these areas. Being the nearest zone to Russia, there is a strategic interest to make peace in the Middle East. The Russian strategists see the Israeli nuclear arms a direct threat to them. Moreover, War on Iran by the Israel exposes Russia to more instability in its Mid Asia backyard. The Russian proposal to start negotiating a Middle East free zone after reaching advancement in peace negotiations is different from the US stance that wants to open the Israeli military file after concluding peace that keeps stubborn Israel dictates not negotiates.
Russia does not want a new war in the Middle East and recently it transferred an Israeli message to Syria that the Hebrew State has no intention to wage a new war on its northern front.
On the other hand waiting for advancement in the peace negotiations to start negotiation free nuclear zone is like asking the Arabs to wait for the benefit of doubt. Russia has the means to deal directly and promptly with the Israeli nuclear arsenal but it withheld recent and advanced air defence missiles from Syria and Iran. At the same time it does not provide its allies Syria and Iran with nuclear umbrella against nuclear threats like what the US did with Israel. Russia, US and Britain promised that they will do their best to create a Middle East nuclear arms free zone in 1995 but it was all a lip service. Moreover, Russia´s position about sanctions against Iran became nearer and nearer to the Western stance.
The US wants to focus on Iran´s nuclear file ignoring the Israeli one. Russia wants to use both files with other cards to reach partnership with the US and the EU on equal foot. Yet their partnership needs good relations with the Islamic World and in particular calm Middle East to achieve its global targets. More pressure from Egypt as the present head of the non-aligned movement and from Islamic countries is needed to reach a Middle East nuclear free zone that is a prerequisite to peace. Nuclear arms spread are the inevitable alternative that nobody wants. It is encouraging that the International Agency decided to put the Israeli nuclear capabilities on the agenda for the June conference but this may be a maneuver to give another lip service.
The recent Greece monetary crisis and the steps taken by EU Financial Ministers Council to save the union showed important facts that added to Russian scores when dealing with the West in general. Few years ago there was a debate in the EU political circles to choose between extending the union to the Eastern European countries giving them full partnership or accelerating partnership and neighborhood policies with Southern Mediterranean countries. Germany chose to direct the union towards the first option and financed the process. France and other Southern European countries tried to create the stillbirth Mediterranean Union that suffers from the Middle East problem. Germany was reluctant to save Greece and even a German MP wanted the Greece to sell some of its islands. However the Germans agreed to the EU financial plans not only to save the EU small member but also to pump about a billion Euros to stabilize stocks markets in Europe.
Any new financial crisis in big European countries like Spain or Italy may devastate risqué plans and recovery in Europe threatening the Euro and the integrity of the union. Simply this gives Russia the main energy suppliers more strength when dealing with the West and NATO. This adds to Moscow´s relative power to be in the future strategic triad with the EU and the US after its military and energy deals with Ukraine.
The question is whether the US-EU-Russia partnership boosts the Middle East peace and nuclear disarmament process or not? First does their partnership need prosperous Middle East or just frozen and calm Middle East? Russia needs markets as it is still far from being an active competitor in the European markets. The traditional Russian arms sales and machines need customers in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Russian companies need projects in these areas. Being the nearest zone to Russia, there is a strategic interest to make peace in the Middle East. The Russian strategists see the Israeli nuclear arms a direct threat to them. Moreover, War on Iran by the Israel exposes Russia to more instability in its Mid Asia backyard. The Russian proposal to start negotiating a Middle East free zone after reaching advancement in peace negotiations is different from the US stance that wants to open the Israeli military file after concluding peace that keeps stubborn Israel dictates not negotiates.
Russia does not want a new war in the Middle East and recently it transferred an Israeli message to Syria that the Hebrew State has no intention to wage a new war on its northern front.
On the other hand waiting for advancement in the peace negotiations to start negotiation free nuclear zone is like asking the Arabs to wait for the benefit of doubt. Russia has the means to deal directly and promptly with the Israeli nuclear arsenal but it withheld recent and advanced air defence missiles from Syria and Iran. At the same time it does not provide its allies Syria and Iran with nuclear umbrella against nuclear threats like what the US did with Israel. Russia, US and Britain promised that they will do their best to create a Middle East nuclear arms free zone in 1995 but it was all a lip service. Moreover, Russia´s position about sanctions against Iran became nearer and nearer to the Western stance.
The US wants to focus on Iran´s nuclear file ignoring the Israeli one. Russia wants to use both files with other cards to reach partnership with the US and the EU on equal foot. Yet their partnership needs good relations with the Islamic World and in particular calm Middle East to achieve its global targets. More pressure from Egypt as the present head of the non-aligned movement and from Islamic countries is needed to reach a Middle East nuclear free zone that is a prerequisite to peace. Nuclear arms spread are the inevitable alternative that nobody wants. It is encouraging that the International Agency decided to put the Israeli nuclear capabilities on the agenda for the June conference but this may be a maneuver to give another lip service.
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