Menu

Diplomacy

This pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik shows Russia's President Vladimir Putin and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan holding a meeting in Abu Dhabi on December 6, 2023. (Photo by Sergei SAVOSTYANOV / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI SAVOSTYANOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin does an unusual overseas trip to the UAE amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict

, , , , , , , , , 0

Nearly two years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to the Middle East, where he declared that the relationship between Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had reached an unprecedented level. During his meeting with UAE President, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, Putin praised the UAE as Russia’s primary trading partner in the Arab world. He also commended the collaboration between the two nations. Putin’s visit is part of an effort to strengthen ties with Gulf states amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

Putin, facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for suspected war crimes in Ukraine, has limited overseas travel. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, not being parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, do not require his detention. Putin’s visit included symbolic elements, such as a cavalry escort to the Qasr al-Watan Palace, where he met with the UAE President. The leaders discussed various topics, including trade, oil, the Ukraine conflict, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Following his visit to the UAE, Putin was expected to travel to Riyadh to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). Russia, a key ally in OPEC+, has strong ties with Gulf governments, which have refrained from joining Western sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine invasion. The Gulf states have previously assisted Russia in prisoner exchanges, with Saudi Arabia mediating the release of nearly 300 individuals, including Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and American basketball player Brittney Griner.

Amid Putin’s Middle East tour, CNN reported that the U.S. submitted a new prisoner swap proposal to Moscow in an attempt to secure the release of two Americans, former Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich. The Kremlin responded that they do not discuss such topics publicly. Whelan and Gershkovich have been held in Russian custody, with Gershkovich marking his 250th day of incarceration and Whelan approaching his fifth year in custody this month.

The 2022 G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese bilateral meeting with President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping. November 15th, 2022. (Photo by James Brickwood/Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images)

PM Albanese of Australia will be welcomed in Beijing by Xi Jinping

, , , , , , , , , 0

On November 4, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visit Beijing—a journey that, in a normal year, would likely garner little attention outside of the two nations. The two leaders’ meeting on Monday, November 6 is expected to be the first of its type in almost seven years. Since Albanese came to office in May of last year, both nations have worked toward a reset, and Beijing has loosened the majority of its tariffs on Australian imports.

However, Albanese has expressed his belief that the two nations are not strategically united and emphasized the necessity to maintain a “clear-eyed” perspective of their differences. Australia’s security alliance with the US and UK has infuriated Beijing, which has also criticized the country for its intention to buy nuclear-powered submarines, which is largely perceived as an attempt to counter China’s military dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.

For his part, Albanese has advocated for the right of states to self-determination, human rights, and peacekeeping, particularly across the Taiwan Strait, which divides China from the autonomous island it considers to be a part of its own territory. It is a warning from Albanese that China does not consider itself a force that supports the “status quo”. However, experts predict Beijing will portray itself during this week’s high-level discussions as a “benevolent and benign partner” who welcomes a buddy who has wandered off.

Australia and China’s relationship has gone through several stages, characterized by both collaboration and conflict. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam led Australia to formally recognize the People’s Republic of China in December 1972. Australia was among the first Western nations to make such a move, therefore it was noteworthy. However, relationship tensions have occasionally arisen from disagreements over topics including human rights, the South China Sea, and claims of Chinese meddling in Australian internal affairs.

The first, and most likely the most painful, was Australia’s decision to spearhead efforts on behalf of its Five Eyes allies to forbid Chinese giant Huawei from providing equipment for their 5G networks from the beginning of 2019. The UK, US, and Australia announce the formation of a new trilateral security alliance known as “AUKUS” that aims to promote defense technology collaboration and interoperability is obviously intended to put Australia inside the US-led Indo-Pacific security umbrella and strengthen its military capabilities in comparison to the PLA Navy, even if China is not mentioned by name in the text.

Moreover, Canberra’s largest trade partner, Beijing, saw a sharp decline in ties in 2020 when the country’s conservative government forbade Chinese tech firm Huawei from receiving contracts for 5G networks and demanded an inquiry into the cause of Covid-19. Following that, a vengeful Beijing imposed harsh taxes on a wide range of Australian goods, including coal, barley, and wine, sending the relationship into a deep freeze.

Currently, Australia has made an effort to strike a balance between its close economic relations to China and its geopolitical relationship with the US. In an effort to broaden its commercial and diplomatic ties, it has also sought to improve ties with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. According to Sun of the Stimson Center in Washington in a CNN interview, “it will portray Albanese as being on the right side of history and making the correct choice for the sake of (Australia’s) economy, especially export industries, including its wine industry.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shake hands during the signing ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace, on March 21, 2023 in Moscow, Russia (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

The Divisions Are Growing More Distinct, China and Russia Are Increasingly Aligned

, , , , , , , , 0

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in Beijing this week on a visit aimed at emphasizing their shared vision for a new international order still dominated by the United States and its democratic allies.

The meeting between the two leaders took place when geopolitical dynamics are increasingly divided, after Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine, currently Israel’s war against the Palestinian militant group, Hamas has the potential to develop into a wider conflict that could shake stability in the Middle East. Both Beijing and Moscow have criticized Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire, in the latest attempt by the two powers to promote their alternative leadership to the US, which asserts Israel’s right to persistent retaliation.

The meeting between the two leaders took place when it was confirmed that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, would travel to Israel in the middle of the third week of this month, to eradicate Hamas as well as find ways to ease humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Xi and Putin are likely to discuss the situation in their meeting this week after Putin arrived on Tuesday as a guest of honor at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing – an extremely rare foreign visit for the diplomatically isolated leader.

These two countries’ statements differ from those of the United States, which clearly stated its strong support for Israel. Xi and Putin also appear to be becoming increasingly aligned in presenting an alternative worldview that “challenges” the Western world. In that conflict too, China has tried to position itself as a potential mediator. However, while it is in China’s interest to encourage the Russian leader to end his invasion, Xi will probably be careful not to take any steps that could harm relations.

This week, Xi will also convene world leaders in Beijing for a high-level forum aimed at praising China’s role in supporting economic development over the past decade and projecting China’s growing ambitions as an alternative global leader to the United States. Leaders, representatives, and delegations from more than 140 countries, including those in the Middle East and many countries in the South, are expected to meet in the Chinese capital for the two-day meeting.

US Vice President Improves Relations with African Countries, Efforts to Counter Chinese and Russian Influence

US Vice President Improves Relations with African Countries

, , , , , , , 0

Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris said that her country will increase investment in Africa and help spur economic growth. The statement came as Harris embarked on a one-week tour of Africa. On this trip, Harris intends to undertake work focused on increasing investment in the continent and facilitating economic growth and opportunity, said Harris on March 26, 2023, shortly after landing in Ghana which will be the first destination on a trip that will include visits to Tanzania and Zambia.

“We look forward to this trip as a further statement of the very important and enduring relationship and friendship between the people of the United States of America and those who live on this continent,” Harris said. [1] On this tour, Harris will meet Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo this week and will visit the castle where people were forcibly sent to the US during the slave trade era. Harris will be in Ghana from March 26-29, then in Tanzania from March 29-31. Her final stop will be Zambia, on March 31 and April 1.[2] She will meet with the presidents of all three countries and plans to announce public and private sector investments.

An Efforts Against China and Russia

The Joe Biden administration has sought to strengthen ties with Africa, in part to offer an alternative to a great power presence, amid global competition over the continent’s future. The US’s efforts were on display last year, when in December last year, ahead of the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, Washington committed $55 billion for the continent over the next three years.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced new $150 million in humanitarian aid for the African Sahel region during a visit to Niger, following Blinken’s previous visits to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Algeria, and Rwanda. Even so, African nations are aware that there are ulterior motives for pushing for this closer alliance, observers say. “African countries are not naive… The US has a long history of interfering in African affairs, supporting dictators versus liberation movements, pushing hard for US multinationals’ access to African markets and resources while leaving the country with nothing in its wake,” said Al Jazeera’s Shihab Ratansi.[3]

The busyness of diplomacy by the US can be described as a struggle for increasing geopolitics that is currently happening, the US, on the one hand, looks afraid of losing its influence in the African region which is rich in natural resources because China and Russia, big rivals of the US can be said to have great influence in the African region.

In recent years, the African region has been developing very close economic relations with China through its silk route program, building real relations through the construction of various infrastructures which are often accused of being China’s way of carrying out a “debt trap” by the West, especially the US. Even Ghana struck deals worth $2 billion (€1.8 billion) with Chinese companies to develop roads and other projects in exchange for access to key minerals to produce aluminum.[4]

In addition, Russia is militarily leasing the private military company Wagner Group. Countries with less stable governments have hired and offered to use military services from the Wagner Group to fight armed groups and those trying to overthrow the government, especially after France, the US partner, withdrew its troops from Africa.

Meanwhile, according to observers, African leaders are not naive and instead ‘Do not want to choose between China, Russia, and the US, but we will do what we feel is in our best interest.’”[5] Put forward the value of “self-determination” called for by African countries since colonialism by the West.

If African countries continue to seek and receive assistance from all competing actors, this will make US diplomatic objectives less effective, plus until recently it has been argued that the US is not helping Africa much in the long term, unlike China and Russia. Moreover, US relations with the African region also deteriorated during the administration of Donald Trump.

—————————————————————————————————-

[1] “US Vice President Kamala Harris in Africa to boost ties”, Al Jazeera, March 26th, 2023 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/26/us-vice-president-harris-in-africa-to-boost-us-ties

[2] “US Vice President Kamala Harris kicks off Africa trip”, DW, March 26th, 2023, https://www.dw.com/en/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-kicks-off-africa-trip/a-65127958

[3] Op. Cit., Al Jazeera

[4] Op. Cit., DW

[5] Op. Cit., Al Jazeera