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A new, more assertive and confident Russia is emerging from the ashes of the old Soviet Union. Given its huge oil and gas reserves, energy policy could well be instrumental in the future of Russia's foreign policy. Under a strong leadership of President Vladimir Putin, the new Russia is gaining in influence through a series of strategic moves revolving around in geopolitical assets in energy. Developments Flaming of the Russian [gas and oil] pipelines, laid down in t.he Energy Strategy 2003, are all but indicative of how the Plan served both economic and strategic considerations. Westward, the Plan may widen the wedge between the old and new member of NATO and/ or the European Union. Eastward, the Russian may succeed to grasp the olive branch of japan and the Friendship of China. As an equal partner of the West and a nearly-dominant peer of the East, Russia managed well a balance- exchangeable-relation to shift preference from one to the other and, more importantly, to drive squabble inside the crowds. A Eurasian order is about to emerge, with the Russian Federation at the centre~stage. |
