M K Bhadrakumar served as a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign Service for more than 29 years, with postings including ambassador to Uzbekistan (1995-98) and to Turkey (1998-2001). He has been posted here before, because he is a unique asset in his well-developed understanding of the world of international “diplomacy.”
Last year, I published articles that looked at the re-emergence of Russia by dint of its immense oil and natural gas production, and its reactions to US machinations to encircle and neutralize Russian influence in Eurasia. Central to that analysis were the linkages developing between the Central Asian Republics, Russia, Iran, and China — especially the construction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which some fear is the Anti-NATO and others fear is the natural gas OPEC (there is merit in both these notions).
Bhadrakumar follows up on these developments with another fascinating look inside the dynamic of a proto-bloc in Eurasia that has clearly seen the handwriting on the wall for the US, seemingly interminably trapped and isolated in its dreadful occupation of Iraq.
Russia draws Europe into its orbit
By M K Bhadrakumar
On May 9, the Chinese People’s Daily admitted, “If we look at US-Russian relations closely, it is clear that we are standing at the edge of a new cold war.” It was an assessment long in coming.
Chinese commentaries in recent months have tended to view the growing tension in Russia’s relations with the United States as the inevitable manifestation of the “pulls and pushes” of a complex, but in essence interlocking, relationship of cooperation and competition, where each side is optimally realizing its FULL ARTICLE
Posted by stan in Analysis