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Russia’s recent maneuver of selling armaments to Iran and Venezuela could end up unfavorable for U.S. foreign relations.
Russia’s recent sale of armaments to Venezuela and Iran does not bode well for U.S.-Russia relations. Russia has just equipped two nations with interests distinctly opposed to those of the United States as revenge for supporting Georgia.
To recap the implications of what happened in the Russia-Georgia conflict, Georgia invaded the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The United States aided pro-Western Georgia when Russia attacked, largely to protect its oil interests in the Caspian region.
Maybe the United States shouldn’t have gotten itself into this mess by aiding Georgia, but it doesn’t matter. Russia’s move to provide weaponry to Venezuela and Iran was a huge blow to the United States — much greater than that felt by Russia from the United States’ support of Georgia. Russia is out of line because Georgia isn’t a nuclear contender nor a global threat the way Iran is.
On the other hand, tensions with Iran are high worldwide. Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran had denied the United Nations the right to investigate allegations that it had attempted to make nuclear weapons. Even after the United Nations repeatedly set sanctions to force Iran to stop uranium enrichment, Iran refused.
The IAEA said it believes Iran is at least 2 years away from possessing the necessary amount of uranium to make a bomb — a process that could take years after that.
However, the United States should not be lulled into a false sense of security just because a bomb could be 5 or 10 years away — we should be strategizing diplomatically now, rather than waiting until we get to the point of catastrophe.
Now that Iran has missiles from Russia, can better protect its nuclear facilities from U.S. attack, which makes it more difficult for the United States to put pressure on the nuclear facilities.
Likewise, Venezuela is actively engaging in the consideration stage of its own nuclear program. President Hugo Chavez has also been a vocal supporter of Iran’s nuclear program and said the country is generally interested in strengthening its Iranian ties. Although Venezuela has insisted its nuclear program would be peaceful, U.S. relations with Venezuela and Iran are so tense that it is difficult to ascertain.
This is not the first time Russia has sold missiles to either Venezuela or Iran. In 2005, Russia sold air-defense missile systems to Iran. In 2006, it issued fighter jets and helicopters to Venezuela.
The recent sale of arms, however, seems to be the last straw for the United States and the sale is particularly suspicious, as it comes so soon after the recent Georgian conflict.
The U.S. has realized the implications of these actions — Russia is banding together with nations we are categorically against. Russia’s strength in this alliance, which has been represented by weapons, is formidable.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has advocated blocking Russia from joining the World Trade Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which promote and work toward economic growth and financial stability among 30 industrialized nations.
Would this cripple Russia economically, so much that it could not afford to give arms to other nations? Or, would it alienate Russia, crushing all hope of economic diplomacy? Russia’s economy is not in good condition — the stock market is plummeting, along with the price of oil.
The diplomatic action we should take against Russia depends on how far Russia, Venezuela and Iran will go to punish the United States. The recent sale of artillery could be a mere ploy to temporarily scare the United States. Yet, it seems more likely that it will continue to defend growing nuclear programs that have the potential to increase in strength during years to come.
Submitted 09-25-2008
MALIBU, CA
