Aby The Liberal

Aby August 4th, 2007

Russia, which has been claiming the Arctic region since the last few months, made a strategic move by having scientists plant the Russian flag 4200m below the North Pole ice bed (August 2, 207). This act follows several other decisive anti-West moves of the Vladimir Putin government in the past few months. It also signifies the rising nationalism in Russia which Putin is cashing on for his strategic political advantage. Putin is the hero of the Russians as he showed that he would not hesitate to wield power in international circles for the political, military and national interests of Russia. Before the Russophobes and Anglo-US moralists cry foul over Russia’s recent move in the Arctic, let us look back at the facts on the Arctic dispute which could have caused it all.

A video from Russia Today on the recent polar Arctic expedition by Russian scientists

According to geological surveys made in US and other parts of the world, the Arctic shelf contains a quarter of the energy resources in the world. The melting polar ice caps created the possibility of new sea routes and oil fields, causing quite a few disputes among US, Denmark, Canada and Russia about the ownership of the Arctic shelf. The US attitude gave a red signal to Putin and his team about the possibility of US capturing, or at least taking over a part of the Arctic shelf for its own interests. One significant pointer to such a possibility is the United States’ refusal to to ratify the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea, as the senators did not want International norms to restrict America from drilling in neutral zones like international waters and Arctic zone.

Vladimir Putin was well aware that it is only a matter of years before the US would make either a justification or a claim, and capture the Arctic shelf for itself or its allies - beyond the bounds of international laws. History is evident of such trends in US foreign policy, especially in the Asia Pacific region and American Hemisphere, which Putin as an ex-KGB agent, is well aware of. Thus Putin decided to act quick and seized the opportunity which made the US and its allies cry foul, once they realised that Putin beat them in their political game. It was a strategic move towards a diplomatic takeover of Arctic region rather than the military seizure which the US is so used to. The 100+ billion ton oil and natural gas reserves in the Arctic shelf could well push Russia to a global oil power which coupled with its military strength, could make for another super power.

Vladimir Putin still maintains that Russia would go by the international norms and not capture Arctic territory surreptitiously, which is met with scepticism among some political circles. Going by the usual trends, Russophobes cry foul about how Russia uses energy and oil to manipulate European politics while Russians have something more to support their President on…

• Internationalism , Russia
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Aby June 14th, 2007

The Litvinenko murder controversy is becoming a murky business day by day as neither United Kingdom (UK) nor Russia is willing to come to a compromise. Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian ex-KGB agent died in London on 23rd of November, 2006 from what has been cited by British authorities as radiation poisoning. The investigators in Britain assert that Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB bodyguard was behind the murder of the former Russian spy and demand extradition of Lugovoi to Britain. The Russian authorities refuse to extradite Lugovoi and assert that the trial of a Russian can take place only in Russia and that it would be “impossible” for British officers to arrest Russians in their home country.

Alexander Litvinenkov : On his death bed in a London hospital

Despite the hopes of warming of relations during G8 summit of 2006 at St. Petersburg, what is overlooked is the fact that there is a deepening ridge between the Western Europe and Russia. There will be no prizes for guessing that Russia is never going to extradite the murder suspect(s) of Litvinenko to UK. The reasons are manifold, one case could be Britain’s extradition records with Russia is not so well off. Britain had earlier refused to hand over Russian exiles like the Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev and dissident tycoon Boris Berezovsky, both of who face criminal charges in Russia. As a move to settle scores, Russian president Vladimir Putin blasted UK’s request to extradite the Lugovoi. Britain’s extradition history with criminals of other countries it as often as bad as its records with Russia which might create rifts between UK and some more countries in the near future.

The United Kingdom’s trysts with Russia is not too surprising considering Putin’s strong stance in favour of Russia’s national interests. It did not go very well with UK that Russia couldn’t be made to bend to the rules of the game played by Anglo-US allies. Perhaps this has a lot to do with Russia’s role in the world oil and arms markets, its upgraded missile systems, its hi-tech and powerful conventional military capability and most of all Putin’s mass popularity as a President amongst the Russians. So now USA and UK have started the popular game which they are good at doing against hard-to-control opponents - mudslinging. The Litvinenkov murder gave a perfect excuse to both Britain and the US to indulge in this act against Putin’s Russia. What eventually comes of it….we will soon find out.

• Russia , World Politics
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