Russia Rises as Honest Broker in Mideast!
(2019-10-18 at 11:55:06 )

Russia Rises as Honest Broker in Mideast

President Putins successful Mideast tour this week evinces Russia as a credible, respected and perhaps pivotal mediator for peace in the region. This ascendancy of Russia comes as the United States flounders from its bankrupt hegemonic policies.

For most of the decades since the Second World War, it was the United States that dominated the oil-rich region. And it is no coincidence during much of that period the so-called Pax Americana was anything but peaceful. That is because Washington,D.C.s foreign policy is essentially driven by imperialist objectives of control and domination, which requires a zero-sum modus operandi.

The United States either has clients which it calls "allies" and "partners"; or it targets non-compliant nations for regime change.

It therefore follows that under this United States of American order-disorder, the Middle East has been a by-word for conflict, sectarianism and endless wars.

Washington,D.C. is the fountainhead of strife and destruction because of its pursuit of unilateral objectives to satisfy empire.

The self-adulation and projection of "noble leader of free world, democracy and rule of law" is but a delusional inversion of reality by the United States and its Western cronies, including the dutiful corporate media which function as a propaganda system.

By contrast, Russias geopolitics are driven by multilateralism and adherence to international law.

Moscow has repeatedly proclaimed the principles of respecting national sovereignty, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter established in 1945.

Russias foreign policy is not imperialist, it is mutualist.

This can be seen in the way Russia, along with China and others, have galvanized numerous countries to cooperate for economic partnership and development. The corollary is that Moscows military doctrine is primarily based on defense.

For the United States and its imperialist relation to the world, its militarism is all about offense and aggression because its power relies on domination and subjugation of others to furnish its interests.

Sooner of later, however, even supposed allies of the United States end up becoming distrustful of, and estranged from, Washington,D.C.

The self-serving nature of United States of American power necessarily involves duplicity and treachery. A case in point is the way the Donald Trump administration has unceremoniously abandoned erstwhile Kurdish "allies" in Syria; or the way Washington,D.C. browbeats supposed allies like Turkey when they step out of line.

Washington,D.C.s fecklessness seems to have become more apparent under the Donald Trump administration.

But that is not due to Donald Trump per se.

It is a manifestation of United States of American hegemonic power on the wane.

Such a policy is unsustainable and anathema to the needs of the Middle East and the rest of the world for cooperation, multilateralism, respect for sovereignty and diplomacy.

Russias world stature has grown in concert with the increasing relevance of the geopolitical vision it espouses and practices.

When President Vladimir Putin was greeted this week in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, it was patently evident the high respect afforded to the Russian leader.

That is in spite of the fact that Russia has staunchly supported the Syrian government to defeat a regime-change war, whose anti-government forces were backed by the Saudis and Emiratis.

Their financial losses from sponsoring that disastrous war are no doubt colossal. But there was not a hint of chagrin this week from the Arab rulers towards Mr. Putin. Indeed, quite the opposite.

Russia has also stood firm in supporting Iran and its sovereign rights.

The decades-long antagonism between Iran and the Saudis and other Persian Gulf Arab kingdoms is largely a result of the United States of American policy of divide-and-rule.

Despite Moscows support for Tehran, this was again clearly not a cause of animus from the Saudi and Emirati rulers.

In defending Syria - a longtime ally of Russia - Moscow has also warned Israel against further aggression.

The installation of S-300 air defense systems in Syria is proof of Russias firmness.

Yet Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu still maintains close personal relations with Mr. Putin.

As with the Arab rulers, Israel may have opposing views to Russias, but at least they know where Moscow stands on geopolitical matters. That in turn makes for mutual respect and a willingness to negotiate.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is another example of a leader whose foreign policy objectives clashed with those of Russia over the war in Syria.

Ankara backed the illegal regime-change campaign fomented by Washington,D.C. and its NATO clients.

Turkey, like the Sunni Arab regimes, lost its gamble.

And it was Russia that caused that bitter loss when Mr. Putin ordered the military intervention from the end of 2015 to defend Moscows Syrian ally.

The consistent principle is one of respect for sovereignty and international law.

Eventually, all nations need to abide by that political principle, or else chaos, duplicity, treachery, and war prevail.

Instead of the United States of Americas win-lose doctrine, Russia strives for win-win.

That is why Russia has been empowered to pull off a "diplomatic masterpiece" in Syria, as SCF writer Federico Pieraccini eloquently put it this week.

The Syrian war is ending with Syrias territorial integrity being restored thanks to Russias defensive military power and its diplomatic dexterity.

Russias role as power broker in the Middle East is effective because it is respected by all - even by, at times, adversaries - due to its honest, consistent adherence to the principles of international law.

Reprinted here from the "Strategic Culture Foundation" provides a platform for exclusive analysis, research and policy comment on Eurasian and global affairs. We are covering political, economic, social and security issues worldwide. Since 2005 our journal has published thousands of analytical briefs and commentaries with the unique perspective of independent contributors. SCF works to broaden and diversify expert discussion by focusing on hidden aspects of international politics and unconventional thinking. Benefiting from the expanding power of the Internet, we work to spread reliable information, critical thought and progressive ideas.