Putin Waging Diplomacy to Keep US Checked

The relationship between Russia and US are getting evidently soured over the countries categorized “the Axis of Evil.”

Russia has supported the US-led war on terrorism commenced after the Sep. 11th attack, and thus maintained a strong friendly relations with US. But it has begun to show diplomatic maneuvering to check the monopoly by US. In the process, Russia has beefed up its economic ties with North Korea, Iran and Iraq.

▽ Strengthening of checking of US = Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jung Il had a summit on August 23. It is considered the crystallization of Russia’s diplomacy against US. Russia has entered into an economic cooperation treaty with Iran and Iraq since last month. In addition, it has beefed up cooperation with North. In sum, Russia has strengthened up its relations with three countries which are categorized as the Axis of Evil by the Bush Administration.

On August 23, Russia pronounced its opposition against any military action by US on Iraq, once again upsetting US. The Russia’s Ministry of Defense in an interview with a Russian media, stressed, “US should produce the hard evidence showing that Iraq has been producing and storing weapons of mass destruction. Otherwise, Russia would strongly oppose any US attack on Iraq.”

Russian government also announced on August 17, “We will pursue a 5-year economic cooperation plan with Iraq. The size will be worth 40 billion dollar, and the project will include various fields such as oil, agriculture, transportation and electricity.” Furthermore, last month, Russia consummated a deal with Iran, which would last for the next 10 years. Under the project, for example, 5 atomic power plants amounting to 5 billion dollar will be constructed.

▽ Putin’s strategy of hat trick = The New York Times reported on August 24 that President Putin succeeded in a hat trick against US by building up cooperative relations with three countries of the “Axis of Evil.” It analyzed that Russia’s recent moves are for showing off its number one status in the world to US via economic ties, rather than for dismissing Bush’s concept of “Axis of Evil.” In other words, it guessed that Russia needs the real benefits in economy rather than nominal ones from supporting US war on terrorism.

In the meanwhile, The Washington Post pointed out on August 22, “US should not forget that Russia is pursuing its own interests.”

It is believed that the main reason Russia cut a deal with Iraq despite the UN economic embargo is to profit from the sale of Iraqi oil worth $4 billion.

A Yale University professor opined, “The recent Russia’s diplomatic moves are totally different from those Russia showed in the past 2-3 years. Russia could not object to US breaking away from the treaty on ABM and stationing its forces in the Middle East. All the recent maneuvers indicate that President Putin wants to obtain US confirmation that Russia is the major superpower in the world stage. Russia is not just ignoring US.”

Mi-Kyung Jung mickey@donga.com