Middle East’s Reinforcing Embrace of the Multipolar World

 

Middle East’s Reinforcing Embrace of the Multipolar World

Middle East’s Reinforcing Embrace of the Multipolar World

12.08.2023 Author: Salman Rafi Sheikh  journal-neo.org/2023/08/12/

The China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the Russia-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Syria gave a glimpse into how the shifting dynamics of global geopolitics are changing regional alignments. China and Russia need the Middle East on their side to be able to effectively challenge – and even reverse – the US-dominated system. The past few months have seen some success in this behalf, evident from the fact that many countries in the Middle East are no longer following the US dictates and that some are even challenging the US (Saudi), seeking concessions from it (Turkey), with countries like Iran already being in a perpetual tussle with Washington for many years. At the same time, whatever is happening in the Middle East is not simply an outcome of Chinese and Russian influence. A lot of it is, in fact, tied to the specific policies of specific countries and their own strategic (re)calculations responding to global politics. Although a lot of this is happening against the context of the shift towards multipolarity, the following developments do not necessarily have superpowers mediating between the relevant countries to chart new courses. Instead, they show how the region is remaking itself as a powerhouse in this multipolar world.

Consider, for instance, the recent embrace between Turkey’s Erdoğan and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad bin Salman (M.B.S.). From Ankara being an ardent opponent of MBS in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi to Ankara transferring the trial of the murder from Turkey to Saudi Arabia shows an overall parallel shift in the bilateral relations of both countries – a shift that is necessitated by both countries’ national interests. With wars in Libya, Yemen and Syria coming to an end and with the ‘Arab Spring’ fever now over, both Ankara and Riyadh have reasons to end the period of animosity – which defined the decade between 2010 and 2020 – and reshape their ties to match the new regional and global realities.

In the past decade, Turkey pursued an aggressive foreign policy that sought to establish Ankara as the leader of the Muslim world. But Turkey today is far from achieving this goal. Its economy is weak with a more than 60 percent inflation rate and its currency has lost its value many times over. At the same time, Turkey is under a lot of geopolitical pressure from countries in the East Mediterranean, and Ankara is also under pressure from the US and its NATO allies to facilitate Sweden’s NATO membership. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is diversifying its ties in the wake of its dwindling ties with the US. Its drive to increase its military capacity and develop an autonomous military approach is at the heart of its recent defence (drone) deals with Turkey. Mutual convenience is, therefore, bringing the two erstwhile political and ideological rivals closer.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey “expressed their determination” to enhance cooperation and coordination in defence and military industries, and to activate their agreements “in a way that serves and achieves the common interests of the two countries and contributes to achieving security and peace in the region and the world”, according to the joint statement issued on July 19.

At the same time, Turkey has also revamped its ties with the UAE. During Erdoğan’s recent visit,  both states inked trade deals worth US$50 billion. Following Erdoğan’s Gul trips, Ankara announced that it expects US$10 billion in foreign investment from Gulf states, with further investments of up to US$30 billion expected over a longer period in Turkey’s energy, infrastructure and defence sectors.

With Saudi itself focused on completely rebranding itself from being the main advocate of Wahhabism throughout the world to becoming a modern centre of the Muslim world, with Islam itself taking a back seat, it is keen to drastically reduce its direct involvement in conflicts. This is most clearly evident in Yemen, where war and fighting have considerably receded (although Yemen is still far from peaceful). In this context, the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran did leave a crucial impact on the state of the war. At the same time, Saudi Arabia itself is making diplomatic advances towards the Houthi rebels. Although Riyadh is yet to find any meaningful success, there is no denying that Riyadh’s approach towards Yemen is changing and that it is keen to exit this conflict with dignity. There are two reasons for Riyadh to exit. First, US support is no longer available. Two, the war in Yemen is taking a heavy toll on its finances, and it is also a massive distraction for Riyadh’s super-intensive drive of mega infrastructural development to turn itself into a ‘new Dubai.’ War, development and modernisation are, as it stands, hard to coexist. Riyad understands that.

None of this is to suggest that the Middle East is emerging, or unifying, as a bloc on the lines of the European Union and/or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Middle East is far from it, yet the developments we have seen or will see – including increasing defence cooperation between countries like Saudi and Turkey – indicate a precise shift towards such a possibility in the future.

For such a bloc to emerge, regional faultlines must disappear. While these faultlines e.g., the ideological divide separating Turkey, Saudi, Iran, and Qatar, have not disappeared, these states have learned to bypass them to develop ties in mutually beneficial ways. This is precisely what European states did after the Second World War. For the Middle Eastern states, there is certainly an opportunity to do the same in the wake of the US exit from the region, the possibility of diversified alliances with superpowers, and the will to transform their own political economies away from dependence on oil.

Most importantly, the more the Middle East focuses on neutralising its internal faultlines and emerging as a region, the more it will reinforce the politics of a multipolar world.  As it stands, its chances of emerging and surviving as a powerhouse are tied to this multipolar world. Within a US-dominated unipolar world, the Middle East will remain a junior player unable to influence regional and global politics to its advantage.

Salman Rafi Sheikh, research-analyst of International Relations and Pakistan’s foreign and domestic affairs, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.

 

Summit Russia-Africa Economic

The Russia-Africa summit is a confident step towards a multipolar world

journal-neo.org/2023/08/14/ 14.08.2023 Author: Viktor Mikhin

Nearly 50 African nations participated in the Second Summit Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St. Petersburg, which shook the foundations of the antiquated society the West had built for itself. Only five African countries did not attend the summit in Russia on July 27–28 for various reasons, while about 20 heads of state and government were there.

Moscow, which pompously hosted this productive event, stated that the large turnout “confirms [Africans’] desire to strengthen ties with our country, regardless of the circumstances.” The main theme of the summit was peace, security, and development—the creation of a new multipolar world where Africa would take its rightful place. This stands in stark contrast to the West’s long-defunct doctrine, which has only ever known how to fill areas of the world with lethal weaponry, fight wars, and enslave many countries economically. Suffice it to recall the tragic outcomes of Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and, most recently, Ukraine, where the “democratic” West, led by the United States, destroyed these nations totally with its “democratic” efforts.

According to Dr. Fred M’membe, president of the Socialist Party of Zambia, the United States was able to deter several African politicians from visiting Russia through nefarious blackmail and malicious provocations. “Many people are deterred from visiting Russia by individuals who want to rule the globe and those who believe that the only way to go is the path of the United States,” according to M’membe. “We know who our friends are, and we have the right to choose our own friends. No one should choose our friends for us. We are here in Russia today to demonstrate this,” he added.

Speaking at the meeting of heads of state, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted Sovereign Development with a number of notable Russian efforts to support Africa, including access to food, fertilizer, modern technology, and energy. Setting aside some individual nations, it was reported that “literally all the leaders” of significant regional institutions on the continent, ranging from the African Union to the African Export-Import Bank, were present at the summit. In addition, Vladimir Putin met with Dilma Rousseff, President of the BRICS New Development Bank, and the prime ministers of Ethiopia and Egypt, in separate bilateral discussions.

On the margins of the event, Isaias Afwerki, the president of the State of Eritrea, claimed that decades ago, Western forces not only sought to “contain Russia” but also “declared war on anyone” who stood in the way of their goals. And there is ample evidence for that. “When we talk about this Russia-Africa summit,… This is not a coincidence, and a new world order is needed. There must be a world order. They can’t keep dominating by transitioning from slavery to colonialism, neocolonialism, and hegemony. How long can people support this dangerous ideology that destabilizes every part of the world?“

He said that “They will use all the tools, as they are using now in Ukraine, to give the impression that this is a fight between Russia and Ukraine, you know? Ukraine and Russia have nothing to do with it; it’s their [the hegemonic powers’] war, declared… And it’s not just Russia; it’s everyone else: Asia, Latin America, Europe, North and South America, and so on. People are tired of it.“ The Eritrean president went on to say: “The success of this second summit of Russian-African solidarity is an important milestone proving that their western strategies are failing. What is the difference between colonialism, slavery, and the systematic annihilation of indigenous peoples? The goal is the same. And then there’s this hegemonic ideology, containing this and containing that, causing issues and conflicts here and there. It’s the same strategy, it’s a pattern, and the pattern is clear to everyone. People have now learned their lesson. The names may change, the tactics may change, but the goals remain the same.“

By adopting policies to put an end to decolonization on the continent and to secure compensation for economic and humanitarian harm, the summit addressed historical injustices against Africa. The West’s colonial practices, which included restitution of cultural property taken during colonial plunder, caused this enormous harm to African states. The African World Reparations and Repatriation Truth Commission which met in Accra, Ghana, in August 1999, demanded reparations from “all Western European and American peoples and institutions that participated in and benefited from the slave trade and colonial conquests.” It was also calculated that “the number of human lives lost to Africa during the slave trade and the value of gold, diamonds, and other minerals taken from the continent during the colonial plunder” would come to almost 777 trillion dollars. What does it matter that the “enlightened, civilized, and Christian” West still continues to loot Africa’s resources while arrogantly laughing at the “stupidity” of these “second-class people”?

The goal of collaborating to combat manifestations of neo-colonial practices aimed at undermining state sovereignty, denying them the ability to make their own decisions, and preventing them from pillaging their natural resources was also underlined by Russia and African governments. The meeting emphasized the increasing urgency of joint action to combat forms of intolerance in the context of overcoming the consequences of colonialism, slavery, and the slave trade, including the transatlantic slave trade, which has been recognized as a terrible tragedy in the track record of humankind.

Important questions about the sovereignty of African States were discussed in the 74-article joint declaration that was adopted at the conclusion of the summit. It is well known that both USA and France continue to loot Africa at an accelerated rate, with the “democratic” US having 28 military bases in 15 of the continent’s countries, while France continues to maintain a presence in 10 States. Vladimir Putin praised the declaration, calling it a testament to the unwavering commitment to building a multipolar world order. The declaration asks for enhancing the long-standing and mutually beneficial friendly ties between Russia and African governments, as well as for mutual respect and trust, continuing long-standing traditions of cooperative resistance to colonialism and the establishment of African state independence.

At the summit’s conclusion, participants made clear that they were opposed to xenophobia, related intolerance, aggressive nationalism, neo-Nazism, Neo-fascism, Afrophobia, Russophobia, all forms of racism and racial discrimination, as well as discrimination based on religion, belief, or origin. This included, but was not limited to, migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The West, which is viewing its collapse with dread, is trying to poison the entire planet for the last time by aggressively and intensively imposing all these toxic aspects on it.

They said that this reflected Africa’s expanding global role and influence as a crucial pillar of a multipolar world and applauded the growing significance of African States and the African Union as the foremost continental body in international affairs. In order to prevent neocolonialism, imposing conditionality, and double standards from depriving States and peoples of their ability to make autonomous decisions about their development, the Summit reiterated the necessity of uniting in opposition to these practices. Enhance equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between Russian and African countries in order to promote the creation of a more just, balanced, and multipolar world order that resolutely opposes all manifestations of international conflict on the African continent.

The significance of all governments adhering to international law and respecting the fundamental principles of the UN Charter was highlighted. The summit condemned the practice of freezing sovereign foreign exchange reserves as well as unilateral, illegal restrictive measures, including secondary measures. It emphasized that using political blackmail to persuade leaders of third countries to take such actions or to sway states’ political and economic policies is unacceptable.

The declaration commended Russia for its willingness to maintain its steadfast assistance in bolstering the national sovereignty of African governments as well as all other facets of their security. In order to strengthen peace, stability, and security in Africa, it was stated that a permanent Russian-African high-level mechanism would be established to coordinate efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, especially violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and on information security issues.

Concerns were made about global food security issues, such as rising food and fertilizer costs and disruptions in international supply networks, which disproportionately impacted the African continent. African leaders welcomed Russia’s determination to continue to assist their states in addressing issues related to the provision of food, fertilizers, and energy resources. For its part, Russia claims it intends to increase shipments of vehicles, industrial equipment, and fertilizers to Africa, with payments to be paid in the local currency. Moscow also plans to provide commercial and humanitarian grain shipments to “African friends,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin said Russia and Africa also pledged to “fight neocolonialism, the practice of illegal sanctions, and attempts to undermine traditional moral values.” Russia will contribute 1.2 billion rubles to a “large-scale aid program” for African health initiatives. The Russian president complimented the summit’s “constructive, friendly atmosphere” and positive outcomes in his closing remarks. Vladimir Putin claims that the agreed declaration shows “the commitment of all our states to the formation of a just and democratic multipolar world order based on the universally acknowledged principles of international law and the UN Charter.”

According to Putin, the influence of once-dominant Western powers is waning as Africa gains political and economic clout. “Before our eyes, the African continent is becoming a new center of power. Its political and economic role is growing exponentially. And this has become an objective reality,“ the Russian president said.

Viktor Mikhin, corresponding member of RANS, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”

கிழக்கு அபிவிருத்திகள் குறித்து ஆர். சம்பந்தனுடன் செந்தில் தொண்டமான் கலந்துரையாடல்

 

தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவரும் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான சம்பந்தன் உடன் கிழக்கு மாககாண ஆளுநர் செந்தில் தொண்டமான் நேற்று (08) மரியாதை நிமிர்த்தம் சந்தித்திருந்தார்.

இதன் போது கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட அபிவிருத்திகள் குறித்து கலந்துரையாடல் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது.

இச்சந்திப்பு பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சம்பந்தனின் உத்தியோகபூர்வ இல்லத்தில் இடம்பெற்றிருந்தது.

https://www.thinakaran.lk/

Foreign Ministry clueless about CIA Chief William J. Burns’ alleged visit to Sri Lanka

SL Foreign Minister Ali Sabry

 Foreign Ministry clueless about top US spook’s clandestine visit

The Island Published on 2023/08/11 By Saman Indrajith

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament yesterday that his ministry had received no information about CIA Chief William J. Burns’ alleged visit to Sri Lanka on Feb 14.

Making a ministerial statement in response to a series of questions raised by SLPP dissident MP Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera on June 22, the minister said that his ministry only provided necessary diplomatic clearances for the aircraft to fly to Sri Lanka.

Minister Sabry said that he had been aware that two aircraft of the United States Air Force had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Feb. 14 and according to the information provided by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation and Airport and Aviation Services Lanka Ltd, a number of US officials had officially entered the country.

The Minister’s response to Ven Ratana’s queries: “This is my answer after consulting all the relevant agencies. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the link between the foreign countries, entities, institutions and ministries departments and institutions in Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the focal point for the subject area that comes under the purview of the MCC. It is noted as an expert committee was appointed by the Cabinet in December, 2019 to review the MCC agreement and the final report was handed over to the former President in June, 2020. The proposed SOFA is an agreement between the US and Sri Lanka, according to the line ministry in this regard also the Ministry of Defence and information required in this regard could be obtained from the Ministry of Defence. ACSA is also an agreement that comes under the Defence Ministry. Relevant line ministry in this regard is the Defence Ministry and further information may be obtained from the Ministry of Defence.

“Therefore, it is appropriate to ask the relevant line ministry – the ministry of Defence regarding the reimplementation of these agreements and its current status and the purposes. I am aware that two aircraft belonging to the American Air Force arrived at the Katunayake BIA in the afternoon of Feb 14, 2023. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation and Airport and Aviation Services Lanka Limited, they have officially entered into the country.

“The two planes that had arrived at the Katunayake International Airport under No RCH 23/992142A and RCH 231/00215A. I further mention that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had done only the necessary diplomatic clearances for the aircraft to fly to Sri Lanka. The chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services Lanka Limited has informed that the names, passport numbers and Visa number of the persons who came in the two aircrafts could be obtained from the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

“Further the Airport and Aviation Services Pvt Ltd has informed this ministry that they are not aware of the fact to which organisation in the United States the said group belongs to and responsible for and have met with the parties or organizations in Sri Lanka bearing what responsibilities and what matters to the agreement were discussed in this meeting. And therefore, some of these questions seem to be referred to the wrong ministry. So, based on the evidence that we gathered, and the information which we acquired from different agencies, this is the information which I can provide to the question raised by Ven Aturaliye Ratana Thera on June 22, 2023.”

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