Tehran Times Opinion Column, Feb. 21 Moscow’s Eurasian policy bearing fruit TEHRAN, Feb. 20 (MNA) -- The implementation of Russia’s Eurasian policy, coupled with Moscow’s attentiveness to U.S. moves in the Middle East, has opened a new chapter in Moscow’s political and economic relations with Arab Middle Eastern countries, especially in the Persian Gulf region. [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the Middle East was significant from the political and economic standpoints. He set out for the Middle East at a time when the U.S. position in the Persian Gulf region is declining and Arab countries are increasingly seeking Asian allies.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The importance of this visit is obvious as it was the first visit of a Russian president to Arab countries after a long period of downgraded relations between Moscow and the Arab world. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In light of the increasing tension in the Middle East and the plans for the deployment of more U.S. forces to the region, this diplomatic move could greatly boost Russia’s relations with Arab states.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Russian president’s Middle East tour, which came after a visit to India, together with Putin’s condemnation of unilateralism at the recent Munich Conference, suggest a turn toward the East in Russian foreign policy. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This policy is more evident in the areas of military and energy cooperation. Over the past year, Russia has challenged the United States’ position as the world’s leading arms dealer. Given Arab countries’ interest in purchasing weapons, the visit provided a good opportunity for the Russian arms industry to improve its position in the Middle Eastern market.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Moreover, Russia’s interest in the proposal to establish a “gas OPEC”, specifically, an organization of gas exporting countries, shows that Moscow has many routes to improve its relations with Middle Eastern countries.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Along these lines, Russia could acquire a bigger role in setting the price of natural gas at the meeting of gas producing countries scheduled to be held in Qatar in April, which will gather countries that hold 70 percent of the world’s gas reserves. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This has set off alarm bells in the European Union. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Meanwhile, Russia’s interest in investing in a Saudi Arabian gas field is another example of the economic objectives of Putin’s visit. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In addition, Russia’s diplomatic move has another important aspect. Middle Eastern countries have always been sensitive about Moscow’s dealings with Muslims, especially in Chechnya. Thus, Moscow could reduce internal pressure by strengthening its relations with Muslim nations.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Moscow’s insistence on a multi-polar world at the Munich Conference and Putin’s visits to Eastern countries show that Russia is scrapping the cautious approach it had followed for several years and has decided to become an active independent player.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Becoming an independent player in the international arena offers Moscow more opportunities than its previous ideological policy of the bipolar era. This new policy has been refined over the past 15 years, and now, with the improvement of Russia’s relations with Arab Middle Eastern states, it is beginning to bear fruit.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The importance of this visit is obvious as it was the first visit of a Russian president to Arab countries after a long period of downgraded relations between Moscow and the Arab world. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In light of the increasing tension in the Middle East and the plans for the deployment of more U.S. forces to the region, this diplomatic move could greatly boost Russia’s relations with Arab states.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Russian president’s Middle East tour, which came after a visit to India, together with Putin’s condemnation of unilateralism at the recent Munich Conference, suggest a turn toward the East in Russian foreign policy. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This policy is more evident in the areas of military and energy cooperation. Over the past year, Russia has challenged the United States’ position as the world’s leading arms dealer. Given Arab countries’ interest in purchasing weapons, the visit provided a good opportunity for the Russian arms industry to improve its position in the Middle Eastern market.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Moreover, Russia’s interest in the proposal to establish a “gas OPEC”, specifically, an organization of gas exporting countries, shows that Moscow has many routes to improve its relations with Middle Eastern countries.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Along these lines, Russia could acquire a bigger role in setting the price of natural gas at the meeting of gas producing countries scheduled to be held in Qatar in April, which will gather countries that hold 70 percent of the world’s gas reserves. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This has set off alarm bells in the European Union. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Meanwhile, Russia’s interest in investing in a Saudi Arabian gas field is another example of the economic objectives of Putin’s visit. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In addition, Russia’s diplomatic move has another important aspect. Middle Eastern countries have always been sensitive about Moscow’s dealings with Muslims, especially in Chechnya. Thus, Moscow could reduce internal pressure by strengthening its relations with Muslim nations.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Moscow’s insistence on a multi-polar world at the Munich Conference and Putin’s visits to Eastern countries show that Russia is scrapping the cautious approach it had followed for several years and has decided to become an active independent player.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Becoming an independent player in the international arena offers Moscow more opportunities than its previous ideological policy of the bipolar era. This new policy has been refined over the past 15 years, and now, with the improvement of Russia’s relations with Arab Middle Eastern states, it is beginning to bear fruit.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]
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