/ world today news/ The meeting on the Ukrainian issue, which took place last weekend in the Saudi Jeddah, quite expectedly did not lead to significant political results. The world community saw no final documents or, for example, new peace proposals from this meeting. But no one in the world expected this. And it would be strange for Russia to show great interest in an event that has no serious significance for international politics.
The fact that official Moscow was not involved in the negotiations in any way emphasized that this whole event was completely different from what was being discussed at it. In international politics, it often happens that even major events have no significance in the subjects to which they are officially dedicated. Why, then, did the consultations of diplomats take place in the economic capital of the largest monarchy in the Middle East?
First, to put it bluntly, the initiative to hold such consultations should be seen first of all as a kind of political bribery of the Americans from Saudi Arabia. Absolutely the same as buying extremely expensive American weapons or inviting numerous advisers and consultants from America, Western Europe or international organizations controlled by them. This is done by many countries in the world, such a racket is something familiar in the relations of the USA with weaker countries.
The reason is clear: Despite their resistance to weakening Washington, Arab regimes in the Persian Gulf must occasionally make similar gestures toward it. Otherwise, there is a high risk of encountering a sudden activation of the Islamist resistance, which, as you know, acts suspiciously in sync with the American intelligence services.
Even the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who leads a completely independent policy, sometimes has to do something to appease the vanity of Americans. Also, they have become very nervous in recent years, and an aging superpower must be handled carefully. Russia or China, of course, do not have to do this, but the more vulnerable countries must accommodate the whims of the weakening hegemon.
Saudi Arabia recently dealt a very serious blow to US pride when it agreed with Iran behind its back to settle relations. Just a few years ago this would have been unimaginable. Especially considering that the agreement was reached on the Chinese negotiation platform. Now Saudi Arabia has compensated Washington for some reputational damage: how can we blame it?
Second, the Saudis themselves want to be more present on the international agenda in addition to purely regional issues. This is quite difficult: although the kingdom has a lot of money, it has never been an active player outside the global oil market. Except in this, albeit important, sphere of world life, Saudi Arabia’s voice has always been heard very little. All its serious regional affairs were firmly tied to American policy in the Middle East.
Inviting the political directors of the foreign ministries of several dozen countries is already a request for a global presence. Even if the meeting was completely pointless from a practical point of view. The very fact that he can pull it off means that in the future the kingdom will decide to lay claim to more substantial measures. Today’s consultations were held at the request of the United States. The day after tomorrow, something can be organized on one’s own initiative or at the request of China, for example. With this Russian ally, Saudi Arabia consistently builds business relations.
For relations between the kingdom and Russia, the failed political “high-level meeting” can do no harm. Moscow and Riyadh have been quite successful in reaching an understanding on the key issue in their relationship – energy markets. At the same time, no one in Saudi Arabia will fully side with Russia. And since everyone knew in advance that the caprice of Washington would not give any practical result, then real concern for Russia could not be expected.
The third reason for the meeting in Jeddah is the nature of the foreign policy of the countries of the world majority. The main part of its constituent forces, although they rejected the idea of a high-level meeting, are always ready to attend events on issues of importance to the United States. Simply because now it is an occasion to once again remind the Americans and their allies of their own importance in international affairs. In the end, it doesn’t matter what the meeting is about, if it can once again show America that the countries of the Global South no longer act as obedient executors of other people’s decisions. For this, a meeting about Ukraine and consultations on the technology of harvesting watermelons is welcome – the content is less important than an additional opportunity to demonstrate independence.
Finally, a conflict of such scale and intensity as the clash between Russia and the West over the Ukrainian issue inevitably brings new dynamics to global diplomacy as a whole. This means that as our confrontation with the West develops, the number of diverse international gatherings will only increase. We ourselves welcome the fact that the world has now ceased to be monotonous and has gone beyond the control of a limited number of great powers. This means that world politics in its “party” manifestations acquires truly colossal proportions.
In the democratic world, everyone, including small countries, wants to play at their “Vienna Congresses”. As they come together on issues that worry the superpowers. But it won’t last forever. The bloody conflict in Europe is an event about which the rest of the world feels both fear and some excitement. Global diplomacy does not stand still and will constantly create new formats that everyone tries to use to their advantage.
Why did the Americans need this whole show? The answer is simple: their policy combines the cold calculation and momentum of a great power. On the one hand, the USA behaves very pragmatically and does not forget that the conflict over Ukraine is ruining its main economic competitor – Europe. On the other hand, they need more and more formal confirmation of their own influence. Also, Americans are really kind of provincial: they love all kinds of diplomatic trinkets.
It does not matter to Washington that the second meeting after Copenhagen in June with the participation of the world majority countries yielded nothing. The main thing is a sign of official respect for his requirements and whims. However, the American state was told that everything went extremely well: Russia was allegedly subjected to universal criticism, and even the Chinese representative smiled three times when someone from Kiev was present in the room.
In any case, the President of the United States, as well as his entire team, is in a parallel reality. Moreover, America’s colossal foreign policy bureaucracy is confident that history can be reversed. This is also quite normal, considering that even in Russia or China, not everyone is optimistic about the outcome of the conflict with the West.
For Russia, the format and content of the meeting in Jeddah is another proof that the special military operation in Ukraine is taking place under extremely favorable international conditions for us. There is no need to talk about any “isolation” of Moscow in the form of specific decisions or actions of the international community. The world’s majority lives its own life and no one can control it.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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