The Ukrainian military penetration into Russian territory is not only a problem of national border security for the zar Vladimir Putinbut a sign of weakening of its international authority as leader of a country that still has ambitions to be a global power. In addition to problems of internal balance and credibility, in the eyes of the Russians and of a part of its own nomenclature, With Russia under attack, Putin must now deal with the contradiction that this situation brings with it: How can one aspire to mediate conflict situations around the world and be deemed worthy of doing so?
The question is timely given that in recent days, just to stick to the conflict in the Middle East, the news of the visit of the leader Palestinian Abu Mazen in Moscow. Abu Mazen will arrive in Russia today and tomorrow he will meet the president Vladimir Putin. The main theme of the summit was the situation in Gaza and the role that Russia could play in doing something about the Middle Eastern chaos. There is no doubt that the potential, even symbolic, of this meeting between Putin and the leader Palestinian is in fact weakened by the penetration of Ukrainian military into Russia, a situation that changes the priorities of the zar. And with a Mosca under check and weakened in its role as player global, here comes the Chinesea friend without limits of Putin but above all of herself.
We all know the historical connection and alliance between Russia and theIran. And what is China doing to you at this delicate moment for Putin? An obvious demonstration of support for the regime of Teheranwith the awareness of being able to expand its role also in the Middle Eastern area precisely by virtue of the Russian crisis. The Chinese Foreign Minister spoke yesterday, Wang Yiwho recently had a meeting with his Iranian counterpart ad interim Ali Bagheri Kani: “China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security and national dignity, in accordance with the law, and supports Iran in its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the Chinese minister said. He added: “China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination of leader Of Hamas Haniyeh, considering that it seriously violates the fundamental norms governing international relations, that it seriously violates the sovereignty, security and dignity of theIranwhich directly undermines the ceasefire negotiation process Gaza and disrupt regional peace and stability.” According to the Foreign Minister of Beijing the commitment of the international community is “fundamental” “to invite all parties in conflict to implement the resolutions of the Security Council Him and to create the conditions for a complete and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.”
Thoughtful words aimed at giving an ever greater role to Beijing also in the Middle Eastern crisis, an area where historically Russia has always weighed much more than China. But times change and with them the balance of power and diplomacy. And this is what the Dragon, Putin’s limitless friend, seems to be betting on today. Whether all this is an advantage for the West, well, remains to be seen because an increasingly ‘almond-shaped’ Russia is certainly not a prospect of greater global stability for the future.
Of Massimiliano Lenzi