Putin's plain speaking in Munich

On February 10, 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy.

The conference can look back on a tradition of almost four decades. The international security community - ministers, representatives of the armed forces, members of parliament, journalists and experts, from more than 40 countries - have met in Munich since the early 1960s. Each year some 250 participants discuss in depth their views on the development of transatlantic relations as well as European and global security.

Putin was very open in voicing his concerns with regard to Nato's plans to deploy an anti-missile defence system, as well as the current US foreign and security policies and the "excessive" use of force. Also, the pledge not to deploy any Nato troops east of Germany had been broken, Putin said, demanding a return to the traditions of international law. It would have to be the United Nations, and not the European Union or Nato, to decide on international intervention.

The new US Defence Secretary Robert Gates emphasised the importance of the Russian-US partnership. Existing problems would have to be addressed in partnership. He also appealed to Nato partners to live up to their promises to supply military and economic aid for Afghanistan: "An alliance consisting of the world's most prosperous, industrialised nations should be able to generate the manpower and materiel needed to get the job done in Afghanistan." This would require a comprehensive strategy, though. This view had also been voiced on by US Republican Senator and potential presidential candidate John McCain.

While the majority of the forum supported the Russian leader's transparency and concerns about international law, most of the media representatives took Putin's remarks as an open confrontation.

In reality the speech was not offensive, as Putin is well aware that the great Russian wealth, which includes oil, is not outside the US greed zone. He is also aware that the US wants complete control of the Middle East as a prelude to Russian oil concessions and other natural resources. This makes Russia keen on aborting the US project in the Middle East as a part of its defence policy.

Vast reach

Russia is seriously concerned about the gradual approach of Nato towards its territories. In Europe, a number of east European countries, which were members of the former Warsaw Pact, are Nato members today. In Asia, Nato has reached several former Soviet countries after the occupation of Afghanistan.

This concern has doubled after the US decision to set up an anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, considered by Russia as a direct threat to its security, despite the US claims that this shield is an anti-terrorism tool.

Russia is equally concerned about its interests in the Middle East because of the increased US deployment in the Arabian Gulf region, as a precaution against military attacks on states friendly towards Russia in the region.

The US-Russian honeymoon, which started after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, didn't last very long.

Different agenda

The interests of the US and Russia clash over several international issues. Despite Russia's keenness on returning to the Middle East, its agenda is very different from that of the US. The Russian stand in the Middle East is in exact contrast to the US way of dealing with important issues, such as the Iraqi occupation and determining its political future, the Russian point of view concerning the Palestinian financial aid and the Iranian nuclear programme. The Russians are distinguished by their moderate stance, making them more acceptable to the people in the region, who are fed up with the US.

Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman said Putin's speech was "provocative", adding that its rhetoric "sounded more like the Cold War". Putin's spokesman Dimitri Peskov said the speech was "not about confrontation, it's an invitation to think".

Gates said that while the US and Russia are partners in several undertakings, Moscow's policies also, in his words, "seem to work against international stability", specifically arms sales to Iran and its use of energy for what he called "political coercion".

Putin's speech comes at an extremely appropriate time for Russia to make important gains in the Middle East, where the US is facing a lot of trouble, such as the rejection of US policy by the Americans themselves.

The danger to world peace has increased as a result of US policy in the Middle East, which is marked by the use of the military option whenever a situation arises.

Putin's speech came just before a historic visit to a number of Arab states. No doubt the visit will result in solid economic relations, which will assist in opening the door to Russian trade in the region.

This will lead to larger cooperation in the region, especially as Putin has offered nuclear cooperation to Saudi Arabia. This offer came after the GCC countries expressed their desire to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The New World Order's merit is that there are no more lines that divide the world politically. Today economic interests prevail.

- Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai