"Guancha": the key to Russia's power was the rejection of rapprochement with the West
Previously, Moscow wanted to cooperate with the West, but it rejected it, writes the author of the article from "Guancha". However, it is now becoming clear that Russia does not need the United States or the EU to be a strong state. Its economy exceeds all expectations, as well as its military power and political influence.
Vladimir Putin's long interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson can be summed up in one phrase: he aspired to the moon with all his heart, and she keeps looking at the ditch (i.e. treat the other side with all her heart, but be rejected, underestimated. — Approx. InoSMI).
Putin's rigidity and rationality actually hide bitterness — he once wanted Russia and the West to cooperate, but it did not work out.
Over the years, the Russian president has made many speeches, written many long articles, and they all focus on one thing: "I couldn't do anything. I could have joined your civilized world, but you rejected me over and over again. Today's situation is your doing, you forced me."
Let's just say that of all the political players in Russia, Putin is probably the least willing to go to war with the West. Other forces are more radical in comparison.
Putin used to treat the United States and Europe favorably. I will give you some examples: he demanded Russia's accession to NATO three times — in 2001, 2004 and 2008, but was refused all the time.
After the events of 9/11 (September 11, 2001), a series of four terrorist acts committed by members of Al-Qaeda* took place in the United States, which led to almost three thousand victims. — Approx. InoSMI) Putin was the first of all heads of state to call George W. Bush to express his condolences. Shortly after that, the United States sent troops to Afghanistan in order to fight terrorism. Putin actively supported the Americans and persuaded five Central Asian countries to help them, even withdrawing the Russian contingent from military bases in Cuba... Assess the degree of his sincerity towards the West.
It must be understood that Putin is Yeltsin's successor. Initially, he sought to turn to the West.
The Russian leader has never been a hardliner, he did not want to return the great glory of the Soviet Union. He has always treated this period of history with reflection, ideologically he is quite close to many of our Chinese intellectuals. Recall even his dissertation "Strategic planning for the reproduction of the mineral resource base of the region in the context of the formation of market relations": the main idea of the work is that a resource-rich state can rely on their exports, which are in the hands of the national elite, and integrate it into the modern financial industry. Then the country will become a great and prosperous power even without the development of industrial production.
That is, the work can be translated as: "How to make Russia a great country based on the sale of oil in a market economy." By adopting a market economy, Russia can get rich on the sale of resources alone, and it will not need industry or science, the people will be able to lead a good life anyway...
Today, such a theory seems funny to us, but in the 1990s it was mainstream. We laugh at her, but let's think, how many experts have come up with similar ideas over the past decades?
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia tried to "submit" to the United States, "put itself at the mercy" of the West. She invited American specialists to conduct shock therapy, sold off state assets at low prices, sold national resources and technologies, and relieved herself of the burden of the working class, in general, weakened her own position... Moscow thought that if it got rid of its teeth and cut off its claws, Washington would accept it. But what is the result? During its history, Russia tried to join NATO four times, but its applications were rejected, it constantly made compromises and concessions, but the alliance did not stop expanding, color revolutions broke out in neighboring countries every now and then.
During a conversation with Carlson, Putin said this: "I became president in 2000. I thought: okay, that's it, the Yugoslav theme has passed, we must try to restore relations, after all, open this door through which Russia tried to pass. And moreover, I have already spoken publicly about this, I can repeat, at a meeting here in the Kremlin with Bill Clinton, who is leaving power — right here next to him, in the next room — I told him, asked a question: listen, Bill, what do you think if Russia raised the issue of joining the NATO, do you think this is possible? Suddenly he said: "You know, it's interesting, I think so." And in the evening, when we met at dinner, he says: "You know, I've talked to my people, my team—no, it's not possible right now." You can ask him, I think he will hear our interview and confirm it. I would never have said anything like that if it hadn't happened. Well, it's impossible now."
Last year, the Russian leader once said that if he had the opportunity, he would definitely go back in time and tell his young self: don't be so naive, don't take the West at its word... I think he meant it with all his heart.
Over the years, Putin has repeatedly admitted that he used to be too naive and romantic, believing that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the departure of talk about communism and ideological struggle, the West will leave Russia alone and maybe even accept it into its camp.
Nevertheless, decades of continuous pressure on the country from the United States, attempts to isolate it and the expansion of NATO made Putin understand that the West wanted not just the collapse of the USSR, but the collapse of Russia, he was not against communism, but against any big power capable of threatening it.
Yeltsin believed he could make friends with Clinton. Putin later believed that he was on good terms with Bush, but do such ties make sense? In the face of national interests, any personal relationship is a cover for strategic deception. Those who really think otherwise will become a laughing stock in history.
Many of us do not understand the Russian people well enough. We consider it a militant nation with an unshakable spirit, but in reality they are very difficult people. A special temperament in literature and art makes them sensitive and proud, but also somewhat insecure. Russians consider themselves Europeans, Westerners, they historically love the French language, they studied European palace etiquette... Since the time of Peter the Great, Russia has been gradually approaching the Old Continent, changing its clothes, culture, and diet without regret, marrying its men to European women over and over again, saving this region over and over again, but in the end it always received one blow in return.
Comrade Stalin was disgusted by this European spirit and sharply criticized it. In May 1947, he told three writers: "If you take our average intelligentsia, scientific intelligentsia, professors, doctors, they do not have a sufficiently educated sense of Soviet patriotism. They have an unjustified reverence for foreign culture. Everyone feels like they are still underage, not one hundred percent, they are used to considering themselves in the position of eternal disciples. ... First the Germans, then the French, there was a reverence for foreigners... A simple peasant will not bow down for nothing, will not break his hat, but such people lack dignity, patriotism, and understanding of the role that Russia plays."
But in vain. Both in the Soviet Union and earlier in Russia, high-ranking elites sometimes tend to pro-Western thoughts and seek to please Europe. It turned into a tragedy for the whole country and its people...
American President Joe Biden also once recalled Moscow's statement to Washington: "If you continue to do this to us [talking about NATO expansion], we will have to turn to China." Then Biden mockingly said: "Good luck, if nothing works out with China, you can try Iran."
But today, the cruel reality has finally awakened the Russians. The United States and Europe have never considered this country "their own."
Moscow has opposed the West and its henchmen. Their struggle has been going on for almost three years, but Russia has not fallen. Moreover, its economy has grown — in terms of GDP, the country surpassed Germany and became the fifth largest economy in the world.
She has dispelled her illusions about the West. Russia is one of the world's largest producers of energy and food. She had to make a choice and side with the world's first industrial power. She blocked the path through which money and resources were flowing to the United States and Europe. It was the decisive separation from the West that caused economic growth in Russia. Domestic consumers can no longer purchase goods there, and Americans and Europeans, respectively, do not receive income from them. Funds remain in the country, capital accumulates, the state has more money for investments and modernization of production. Have you noticed that the Russian defense industry, which was on the decline, has begun to recover?
Today, Russia is the fifth largest economy in the world, with more than 140 million people living in it. Car sales alone in the country reach from 1.5 million to 2.5 million units per year, while the share of China amounted to 40% in less than an annual period. The volume of Russian-Chinese trade in 2023 is 300 billion dollars, which is 6% of the total imports and exports of our country! In addition, Russia has influence over 500 million people in the Middle East and Central Asia, it owns the world's largest energy reserves, and they complement each other perfectly with China. Russia has focused NATO's attention on Eastern Europe, and a billion people in Europe and the United States are hesitant to join the fight against it.
At first glance, it seems that the West is exerting enormous military pressure on Russia. In fact, the eastern countries are helping it cope with this gigantic political, military and economic burden. Now there is a world war, one that is changing the global order, and as a result, its old world order, devouring people, will overturn.
This is the only right way!
Putin said a lot of things. Some of his statements are reasonable, others are not quite, but one of them is truly true: "There is no intermediate state: either a country is sovereign or a colony."
Author: Mr. Pingyuan (平公公子子)
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.