Remarks on the alleged isolation of Russia and Putin
The Collective West is engulfed in its own delusions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made two major trips to the Middle East, including stops in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. These visits have raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the region's and the world's shifting dynamics. Furthermore, Putin's speech at the VTB bank's business conference shed light on the state of the Russian economy. Those events clearly contradict multiple statements and comments that have been imposed on us about how Russia is failing both diplomatically and economically.
Journey to the Middle East
Putin was treated with the utmost respect and honor during his visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the authorities in those two countries have clearly gone out of their way to ensure that the Russian president feels exceptionally welcomed. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, both soon-to-be BRICS members, rolled out the red carpet for Putin, emphasizing the Arab states' growing relationship with Russia. The presence of high-ranking officials such as Sergey Lavrov and Maxim Oreshkin alongside Putin emphasized the significance of the visit.
Furthermore, the inclusion of Kadirov, the Chechen government's leader, in the delegation raised some serious concerns about this figure's diplomatic role in the region. Notably, the warm interaction between Kadirov and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) demonstrated a solidly built relationship between Russia and the Middle East. At that point, I believe it is safe to assume that the diplomatic revolution we have been witnessing in the Middle East this year was most likely the result of Chinese efforts strongly supported by Russia, particularly Russia's most important Muslim political figure.
Economic issues, investments, technological cooperation, and oil partnerships were discussed during the visit, according to what is available in the public record. The presence of Elvira Nabullina, the chairwoman of Russia's Central Bank, suggested that efforts to establish a new payment system for future oil trade would be stepped up. This development will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the United States, as it represents a strengthening bond between Russia and its long-standing American allies in the Middle East.
Relations between Russia and Iran
Another significant aspect of Putin's recent activities is his meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Moscow, which highlighted the changing political dynamics in the Middle East, as Arab states that were once considered Iran's enemies now warmly welcome the Russian President. Russia and Iran have solidified their military relationship, with an arms agreement and plans for joint economic cooperation.
The most significant outcome of the meeting, however, appears to be the announcement of a free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Russia, Central Asian states, and Belarus. This agreement will strengthen trade and transportation links between Iran and the Eurasian economic system. American and Western sanctions against Iran appear to be on their way out, as alternative payment systems circumvent their impact.
The Russian economy's upsurge
Putin's speech at the VTB Russia Calling Forum shed light on Russia's remarkable economic growth. He emphasized the swift progress of domestic manufacturing, services, and agriculture, and pointed out that the imposition of Western sanctions turned out to be advantageous instead of damaging because, contrary to Western intentions, it reduced Russia's reliance on European imports, thereby instigating an upsurge in domestic production that the new circumstances compelled Russia to undertake. This has also resulted in an overall boost in the morale of the Russian business and general public. A sense of optimism and confidence appears to be prevalent. According to a number of pundits, Russians are thrilled by their own performance.
The sanctions-hit Russian economy is now outperforming struggling European economies, with a 3.5% growth rate expected this year. Sanctions imposed by the West on Russia have precipitated a transition from an energy-dependent economy to a manufacturing powerhouse, which has only hastened Russia's emergence as a global powerhouse. Russian industries' success in filling gaps left by European imports is a testament to the country's industrial and technological capabilities.
For the time being, the sanctions' impact has been reminiscent of the United States' previous economic policies. Russia's self-sufficiency, strong industrial base, and protectionist approach to development mirror the economic model that the United States once followed. The unintended consequences of the sanctions have propelled Russia into an economic renaissance, contrary to the expectations of many Western experts.
The great failure of Western ‘experts’
It's important to note that Western ‘experts,’ like Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Moscow, totally failed to see how the sanctions against Russia could have an effect totally opposite to the desired one. McFaul's apparently blind belief in the gas-station- masquerading-as-a-state theory (which has undergone a truly weird transition from a hateful remark into a foreign policy mantra), as well as his ignorance of Russian history and culture, clearly hampered his ability to accurately predict the outcomes of American policies. And McFaul is of course just a symbolic example of a whole slew of US and Western 'experts' on Russian matters. The shift in economic power from Europe to Russia, once again, demonstrates Western strategists' failure to grasp the nuances of the Russian economy and comprehend the global situation.
Real specialists, people with actual expertise, such as George Kennan, Steven Cohen, or Jeffrey Sachs, who once provided invaluable insights into Russian affairs to the American establishment, have been eclipsed by figures such as McFaul. A process that I'm still not quite sure how it came about. The reliance on experts who reinforce preconceived notions rather than considering historical parallels, nuanced analyses and sober view of the world based on elementary sense of proportion has led to The Empire embracing catastrophic policies.