RUSSIA: A
EUROPEAN OR EURASIAN POWER?
26.09.2016
The former Soviet Union was a country encompassing a vast territory
covering the land surface of two of the earth’s continents (Europe and Asia).
During the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was divided into 15 emerging
countries, including: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan and Moldova. Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Armenia,
and the Baltic states, i.e., Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. After this
collapse and fragmentation, there were deeply unpopular politics up for debate
in academia, media, and the general public, especially in the Russian
Federation. One of the main questions was: is Russia a European power or a
Euro-Asian, i.e., Eurasian power?
In terms of lifestyle, the population is simultaneously oriented heavily
towards Western European culture and faith to Orthodox Christianity. They
refused open contact with the West in numerous battles, including battles of
influence. Their targets have often focused on the Western side of the
continent up to the Atlantic Ocean, while the post-Soviet space’s territory is
mainly Asian land stretching to the Pacific Ocean.
Since the first stage in the rebirth of Russia under Yeltsin, the first
president of the new Russia, and then under Putin, the current president for
almost 20 years, Russia has thought and behaved as a European power and
expected to be recognized as an equal of the West and Europe (including the
United States and Canada). But this behavior has been met with success on only
one level. For example, Russia was invited to attend the G8 and meet the
leaders of Western countries, but then, because of the political crisis in
Ukraine and Crimea, Russia was expelled. The G8 focuses on such issues as
European Union management and joining dialogue on issues of importance such as
the crisis in the Middle East, the spread of nuclear weapons, and transnational
crimes, especially international terrorism.
But, at the same time, Russia is faced with the expansion of NATO’s
member countries (secretly supported by the United States and Israel). NATO was
founded as a military organization that opposed communism and confronted the
Warsaw Pact Organization, the military organization led by the communist Soviet
Union. Despite the end of the ideological and political struggle between the
free world and the communist world, the end of the Cold War, and the collapse
of the Soviet Union, NATO still remains without a clear rival. As an
organization, its existence is wrong and an anachronism. It is thus no surprise
that Russia interprets this organization as a a force for containing Russia,
reducing Russia’s power in Eastern and Southern Europe, and threatening
Russia’s security strategy by undermining the brotherly ties of the Slavs, such
as Ukraine and Belarus, and striking deep into Georgia and Armenia.
The West (led by the US) tried to intervene in Ukrainian politics by
overthrowing the elected (pro-Russian) Ukrainian government and its democracy.
In addition, the West tried to shore up and support the opening of the country
up to NATO and the EU for the new “pro-European” Ukrainian government. All of
this constitutes a direct challenge and threat to Russia’s interests and
security strategy.
With the expansion of NATO’s operations, coupled with the expansion of
the European Union, the West has relentlessly and continuously penetrated and
besieged Russia’s zone of influence, security, and forces. Previously, Russia
expressed that it would not surrender, whether this be in Muslim Chechnya on
Russian territory or in the case of Georgia, when Russia used military force
and took decisive measure to prevent a Georgian catastrophe, all the while
asking the West not to intervene in these events.
The latest case was the intervention of the West in Ukraine. Russia
decided to protect Crimea, which never belonged to Ukraine, and on whose
territory Russia had a naval base and uniformed forces for the Black Sea,
Mediterranean Sea, and Southern Europe. Crimea, along with Eastern Ukraine, has
a population of Russian descent and is Orthodox in its majority, while Western
Ukraine is home to Catholics.
After that, economic sanctions were imposed on Russia and it was branded
as a villain by the Western media and “international community.” When hopes and
dreams to be part of Europe and the West with honor, dignity and equality were
met with disappointment and aggression, Russia was forced to turn and
reconsider who it is and ask: what should we do? Meanwhile, Europe and the West
threaten Russia and unceasingly distrust Russia.
Russia's self-review has resulted in a sparking of the idea of a powerful
state and power that is Euro-Asian. This is a return to the Russian idea.
As a result, Putin and his government decided that Russia must strive to
be a powerful Euro-Asian country (Eurasian Power), and that from now Russia
would not give all the attention and interests to one side as previously, but
will focus on its power in both Europe and Asia. After having neglected Asia
for more than 20 years, this means that Russia would immediately pay more
attention and interest in Asia.
Russia established specialized agencies to develop vast areas in Siberia
and the Far East (Far East) up to the North Pacific Ocean and set up budgets
for this purpose and expects to improve infrastructure. Building new transport
routes by land, sea (the North Pole) and natural gas pipelines, along with the
establishment of economic zones encouraging foreign investment in the
development of resources, are all part of trying to create a new ideology and
joining the New Silk Road. In addition, Russia will also rebuild relations and
ties with such Asian countries as India, Pakistan, and the Asia-Pacific region,
including Australia and New Zealand.
Attention should be paid to the fact that Russia is a member of the UN
Asia-Pacific Commission (UNESCAP) whose members have discussed political
stability (ASEAN Regional Forum- ARF) and hold dialogue with partners such as ASEAN
and APEC members as well. In the past, Russia never took effective advantage of
this membership and rarely played a prominent role. It showed no initiative and
offered no contributions or content in this sphere.
One of Russia’s problems in the Soviet period was its strict focus on
selling weapon and energy products to Asia despite the fact that Russia has
other major industries and technology, scientists, and research organizations
to offer. The lack of promotion of these spheres left an emphasis only on
aerospace and military affairs.
Russia does not distribute and develop its potential and certain
capabilities as it should. Hence why Russia’s weight and character in Asia is
still so minor and very limited. Therefore, Russia must develop science and
technology to create excellence in Asia. In particular, the high-tech industry
should be expanded and diversified for trade.
For Thailand, I recommend that Russia focus on cooperation in science and
technology, especially focusing on research and discoveries in, for example,
the medical world. Russia could become a commercial center of the medical
world, a “medical hub.” Thailand still imports medical products from the US,
China, and Europe, but if Russia were to try to cooperate with Thailand and
develop medical industries and build its integrity as a medical hub, then this
would be a beneficial challenge for Russia.
Russia can also expands its navy base in Thailand (Sattahip Port) by
working on military cooperation with Thailand. This means exchanging technological,
military, and intelligence support. This would help Russia be a player in the
South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, thereby enabling Russia to
have more importance and weight in the eyes of the Asia-Pacific region.
But Russia should not only focus on military cooperation. Instead, it
should keep its focus on the distribution and development of its potential in
both the commercial and military spheres at the same time. This would be a real
“Pivot to Asia.”
/https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/content/dam/thestar/news/canada/2021/09/25/huawei-executive-meng-wanzhou-receives-warm-welcome-upon-return-to-china/_1_meng_wanzhou_2.jpg)
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