Resurging Russia:

After the balkanization of the former USSR in 1991, its decline started right off. Then under the
premiership of the much debated Vladimir Putinin 1999, Russia started to reappear on the horizon of
world’s political arena. Russia picked up the pace and took remarkable speed towards its revival as a
world power. In 2000 he became the president of Russia, and held the office till 2008, then from 2008-
2012 as PM, and again assumed president’s office on May 7th, 2012. The real impetus was after 2008
when Russian military intervened Geargia from joining European Union and leaving SCO. Russia forced
eastern European countries to end their peace holidays and revise their defence budget due to
resurging Russia.

1. Diplomatic Resurge

The 1989 practical defeat to Communist USSR by the Capitalist US resultantly minimized the diplomatic
role that Russia had been playing in the international politics. But Russia steadily revised itself evident
from the following reasons

i) Russia has been successful on winning China towards it by a $400 Billion deal. It has opened
its markets for the Chinese companies instead of the Western companies. Secondly the US-
China controversy was successfully dealt by Russia by entering into an alliance with China
via CSTO(Collective Security Treaty Organization) against the Western powers in 2001.
ii) Russia had played very diplomatically on the Iran’s controversial nuclear program. On one
hand it ensured security of Iran by threatening the western world that any attack on Iran
would be defended and it continued its trade with it. On the other hand it is a key player in
the P5+1 deal , where the parties reached a first phase six months deal that will halt Iran’s
sensitive nuclear activities.
iii) Russia has successfully convinced Germany (the biggest economy of Europe – 9 Trillion
Dollars) not to go for a hard stance against Russia because of its 70% trade is dependent on
Russia.
iv) Russian stance on the use of Sarin gas in Syria was not other than that of French and
German parliament. Vladimir Putin diplomacy was that he held militants responsible for the
use of Sarin gas in Syria that killed around 1400 innocent men, women and children.

2. Military Resurge

Russia is rising militarily. It is the second biggest military power in size and technology. Its strike with
Georgia resulted in the Military Resurge of Russia which is evident from the following discussion

i. About 29% of the world’s weapons export is done by Russia, USA is on the top, which
accounts for 30% of world’s arms export.
ii. Georgia was stopped by Russia successfully not to join European Union and was vetoed
 iii. Russia has a naval base in Syria. US and its allies did not attack Syria due to the potential
threat of Russia.
iv. Regarding the Russian-Ukranian conflict NATO secretary general stated in the Lesban
summit in Portugal that if Russia attacks Ukraine then it would be in Russian control within 3
months time and NATO could do the least to help it. Secondly , the US Defence secretary
suggested its European partners to end European peace holidays and increase the defence
budget due to the potential threat posed by resurging Russia.

3. Energy Resurge

Russia is the biggest gas producer of the world while 3rd biggest oil producer after US and Saudi Arab.
Different gas supply pipelines to 11 European countries are under the strong control of Russian
Gazprom. If west has the card of economic sanctions, Moscow has the Ace of energy. An example can
be quoted from 2008,(December 2008-January 2009) when Russia sanctioned the blocking of gas supply
to East Europe. A grand total of 18 days halt kept East Europe in a comprehensive blackout. Gazprom
has more than $ 5billion leftover on Ukraine. It initially stopped the gas supply and then reopened it at 4
times higher price than before.

Gazprom is reaching out to the SAARC countries and would be a possible stakeholder in TAPI. It is
increasing its energy politics towards south Asia. It offered investment in Iran Pakistan gas pipeline. It is
also increasing its participation in the middle east by making efforts to produce an organization of gas
producing countries that would be lead by Russia , a similar like the oil producing countries.

4. Regional Resurge

Russia is also playing a momentous role in regional diplomacy. Russia is fronting the Euro-American
nexus on every platform, like CSTO vs EU, SCO vs NATO and so on. Vladimir Putin has thrust a good deal
potential in the diplomatic role of Kremlin in the region. Russia faces same situation again like the
Georgian 2008 crisis, “The Ukraine problem”. The only change between the policies on the two is the
military surge. Georgia was subdued militarily, while Ukraine is pushed through by The Energy card.
Russia is now gaining the upper hand in regional diplomacy, as in the case of Ukraine, NATO was
ambivalent about its decisive role and couldn’t assist Ukraine. Russia is playing its brutal game, while the
EU-parliament is a silent spectator of kremlin’s tenacity.
 5. The rising role in International Politics

2008 onwards, Russia has been playing key role in United Nations Security Council(UNSC) on a number
of issues and has been successfully protecting its interests on platform of UNSC. Eg

i. The successful annexation of Crimea after a plebiscite where 96% voters showed their
support for Russia. A US application was vetoed by Russia in this context
ii. US tried to attack Syria three times but twice it was killed in the early stages before placing
the resolution in UNSC, by strong opposition of Russia. While the third time it was vetoed
by Russia
iii. It has been successful in the enactment of BRICKS, a counterproductive movement by 5
major nations against IMF. Its future is very bright
iv. The enactment of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) by Russia and China is successful
step to counter NATO . CSTO is also a strong move against NATO
v. European Union has been repeatedly put on back step earlier in the case of Georgia and
now Ukraine.
6. Geo Strategic Resurge

There is a revival of the Cold War where world is turning into multi polar than uni-polar. A number of
countries are on the rise due to their alliances and re-alliances with major world powers. Russia is trying
to remain a key geo strategic player in the Central Asian and Eurasia. Russian sheer use of force is
expected again in the case of Ukraine as it had previously done with Georgia. The annexation of
Crimmea, the control of pipelines and its struggle to enhance its presence in Arabian Sea through
Pakistan is all but to become a potential power. Russian Naval Chief visited Pakistan recently in the
month of August , 2014.

Geo Strategic alliances with China, strategic partnership with Syria and Iran are all but strategic resurge
of Russia.