Russia in the international arena, according to Putin

A recent speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed frustration over Russia's international standing and yearning for its improvement. The answer that Russia is proposing is striving for a new world order in which it will be recognized as an important power that plays a central role in shaping the future order. Putin stressed that if these goals are not promoted, Russia already has the ability to pose significant challenges to the West, including military ones.

On October 16-19, a conference of the Woldai Forum was held in Russia, in the city of Sochi, which brings together the world's leading researchers in Russia. These conferences are also used as a platform for Russian politicians to convey their messages to the international community.

This time, too, President Vladimir Putin appeared alongside a number of his senior administration officials. During the conference he briefed his audience on his political philosophy. In Putin's view, the real future value will be technology rather than land and assets, as is currently the case.

Therefore, a coordinated deployment is required. This redeployment is also necessary in view of the intensification of competition and the increasing tensions between the various countries, nations and systems, as well as the breach of balance in the international system and the management of unbridled struggles to advance interests. Putin said that there is a blatant anti-Russian trend in the United States and Europe. He said that despite Russia's efforts to get closer to the West after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the West had shown hostility towards it and acted to advance its interests out of consideration. This approach was at the root of the current confrontation between Russia and the West.

In this context, the United States has received sweeping criticism for its negative attitude and, according to Putin, the unfair, manifested in subversive activity in Russia and the abuse of its openness in the past regarding armed control. According to him, this is the background to the fact that the cooperation between Russia and the United States was gradually reduced, until it ceased completely in recent years.

In his view, the internal criticism in the United States of Donald Trump's election to the presidency is merely an expression of an anti-Russian trend aimed at torpedoing the rapprochement between the two countries. Trump himself was presented in Putin's speech quite positively, as having personal abilities and positive intentions in cooperation with Russia. Russia, for its part, said Putin would welcome an attempt to improve relations with the United States, which has been described as the strongest and most important country in the world.

As for Europe and NATO, they were accused of carrying out a variety of negative activities in relation to the Russian sphere of interests and various crisis areas in the international arena, and Putin described the crisis in Ukraine as a result of European subversive activity, backed by American support. Putin stressed that the establishment of monolithic states is not a solution but a problem, and that Russia itself fears separatist tendencies, including the possibility that Muslim populations in its territory or areas of influence - the former Soviet Union - will adopt them.

Of Kosovo In addition, Putin blamed Western pressure and threats on the entanglement of the crisis over North Korea. However, according to Putin, Russia, despite its economic and political pressures, is gradually gaining a leading position in the international arena, its status is growing and its relations with many important countries, including China and India, are good. He also emphasized Russia's good relations with all countries in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar, and Russia's interest in cooperation in this region as an alternative to the West. As for the process of dialogue in an attempt to solve the crisis in Syria, Putin described it as difficult, but progressing. He recommended that all local actors in Syria, as well as the relevant regional and international actors, join forces to stabilize the country.

At the same time, Putin accused the West that even if the struggle against terrorism in the Middle East ends successfully, violence will persist because Western influence has deepened its roots in certain societies. Israel was mentioned in a sympathetic tone in Putin's speech. According to a senior cabinet minister who appeared on the forum, Israel, which is friendly to Russia and has a large population of immigrants from the Soviet Union / Russia, is a key country in the Middle East and is also important in a global perspective. Indeed, Israel has built its status as a military power in the region, and in the challenging reality in which it exists, it is only natural.

However, according to the official, the dangers to Israel from its neighbors have decreased, and therefore there is no justification for its exaggerated concerns about Hezbollah, for example. He also argued that it may be a mistake on the part of Israel to view its rivalry with Iran as a challenge, especially since the regime change in Iran will not necessarily benefit Israel. In addition, the senior official mentioned the existence of a Sunni coalition with Israeli cooperation, adding that the solution of the Palestinian issue was essential because his absence was increasing the violence in the region, he recommended that Israel take these considerations into account and declared that he was in favor of Russian consideration of Israel's considerations.

Putin himself also discussed the military dimension of current and future international relations. Along with accusing the United States of the collapse of the disarmament and arms control process that began in the early years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he believed that it was possible and desirable to return to a joint effort for total nuclear disarmament.

Putin, however, accused the United States of developing advanced weapons, which they defined as no less powerful than the nuclear weapons (possibly the PDS), and which, in his opinion, could not be used against North Korea, but noted that Russia's capabilities in this field Today, Russia has modern missile systems equal to those of the United States, and their capabilities were demonstrated in the war in Syria (apparently referring to cruise missiles that were indeed launched from distant naval platforms).

In Putin's view, crisis management tools are aging in new months. All this, he says, is due to Western conduct, which promotes unacceptable political and ideological trends in various parts of the world. According to him, the desired solution to all the challenges is to shape a world order based on a change of approach, including looking to the future, while bridging the current disputes between it and the West. As far as he is concerned, the right path is a dialogue that takes into account the sensitivities of the parties, which will be conducted mainly with the widest possible international cooperation and the unification of the positive forces in the international system, which are now decentralized.

In this context, he claimed that there was no good alternative to the UN.

assessment

Expectations of a sensational speech by Putin were not met. His remarks did not present new and revolutionary arguments, but focused on well-known arguments - mainly accusations in the West for his attitude toward Russia and the creation of crises that undermine the international system.

And this, accompanied by messages that Russia has solutions, their effectiveness and sure, to improve the situation. Beyond the declaratory level, it appears that Russia is interested in stopping the erosion in its relations with the West. Moreover, along with the United States' accusation of anti-Russian activity, it seems that President Putin is optimistic about the possibility of cooperation with the Trump government. While Russia's internal situation has been portrayed by Putin as positive, it is in fact adversely affected by the entire crisis in the international arena, especially the crisis in Ukraine, in which Russia has been sanctioned by the West.

In this context, Russia's anger is directed mainly at Europe, which was accused of initiating the crisis and of thwarting a rapprochement between the United States and Russia. Putin's remarks on Middle East affairs indicate that despite the image of successful Russian intervention in Syria, it is still difficult to make a dramatic breakthrough towards ending the crisis in this country, and to reach understandings with the other regional players about the series.

Over the past two years, however, Russia has become an influential player in the Middle East, with the discovery of wise political conduct. It is also important that Israel is presented by Russia as a partner and as a significant regional player, implying that Russia is aware of the need to consider its interests.

In fact, Putin's speech expressed frustration with regard to its international standing and a yearning for improvement in its status. The answer that Russia is proposing is striving for a new world order in which it will be recognized as an important power that plays a central role in shaping the future order. Putin stressed that if these goals are not promoted, Russia already has the ability to pose significant challenges to the West, including military ones.

Although it is clear that Russia is still far from an optimistic situation, as presented by Putin, it should not be underestimated its ability to be rebuilt as a world power that challenges the international system. It must deal with economic gaps, internal disputes and geopolitical challenges in its sphere of interests in the post-Soviet region. However, it is determined to continue to pursue its goals.