The rebirth of a Bipolar world?
In a sign that the world may be witnessing the re-emergence of a bipolar world where the United States and most Western countries are on one side and Russia and its allies are on the other, President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia on Sunday laid out what he said would become his government’s guiding principles of foreign policy after its landmark conflict with Georgia – notably including a claim to a “privileged” sphere of influence in the world.
While speaking to Russian television in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, in preparation for a summit meeting in Brussels where European leaders were to reassess their relations with Russia, Medvedev said his government would adhere to five principles.
First, Russia, he said, would observe international law. Second, Russia would reject what he called United States dominance of world affairs in a “unipolar” world. Third, Russia would seek friendly relations with other nations. Fourth, Russia would defend Russian citizens and business interests abroad. And fifth, Russia would claim a sphere of influence in the world.
During the speech, Medvedev reiterated long-held Russian positions, like his country’s rejection of American aspirations to an exceptional role in world affairs after the end of the cold war. This, coupled with previous statements by the Russian authorities that their foreign policy would include a defense of commercial interests, sometimes citing American practice as justification presents a significant shift in the position of Russia in international affairs.
In an apparent reference to the renewed claim to a Russian sphere of influence, Medvedev argued that “Russia, like other countries in the world, has regions where it has privileged interests. These are regions where countries with which we have friendly relations are located.” He also indicated that Russia was willing to step outside its immediate “…border region, but not only.”
Medvedev is turning out to be another mistake made by the Bush administration and American Intelligentsia. While everyone was focused on Putin, the young Medvedev is beginning to show his disgust with the diminshed status of Russia in world affairs, a situation that encouraged the U.S. in trying to “colonize” countries around Russia. He used vehement language in announcing Russia’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Though he alluded in passing to respecting Georgia’s territorial integrity, he defended Russia’s intervention as necessary to prevent a genocide.
In tandem with Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is also making it very obvious that business as usual in world politics may be coming to an end. He was seen inspecting progress on a trans-Siberian oil pipeline to China and the Pacific Ocean this past Sunday, a clear warning to Europe that Russia could find alternative customers for its energy exports.
While leaders of the 27 members of the European Union will be meeting in an emergency session on today, there is no indication that they will impose sanctions or go beyond diplomatic measures in expressing disapproval of Russia’s conflict with Georgia.