Need for good East-West ties

The Berlin Wall fell 25 years ago, but now a new wall is being erected between Moscow and the Western capitals, creating new flashpoints.

The genesis of this new barrier can be traced to a period that precedes the Ukraine conflict and the consequent annexation of Crimea by Russia, followed by the Russian military, economic and political support for the pro-Russian secessionist movement.

The new rivalry between the East and the West may have started when Moscow sensed that US President Barack Obama was not resolute on major conflicts and seemed to waver on what action to take.

Russian President Vladimir Putin must have found the “vacuum” in Washington inviting and began to flex Russia’s muscles every time he could to recoup some of the losses that accrued immediately after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Russian leader may have wanted to check the NATO advances, by inviting former Soviet states to join it, in his neighbourhood.

Moscow sensed Obama’s “weakness” in regard to Syria, as well as his indecisiveness on other regional issues, including the Palestinian crisis.

Normal relations between Moscow and Washington can be expected to return to normal when Obama’s term in office ends, in a two years’ time.

Whether it is Hilary Clinton or a Republican who will replace him is not really the point.

The two camps will get back to normal as soon as US power in the international theatre is restored.

The Russian behaviour can be expected to change accordingly, becoming less reckless or defiant.

In order for world peace to be sustainable, there is a pressing need for a bipolar world order so that no superpower exercises unchecked influence or hegemony.

Russia respects power and knows how to deal with it.

Meanwhile, the West must also refrain from provoking Moscow on every major issue, and learn to use power in a responsible manner.

The international community stands to benefit good relations between the two superpowers and it can play a role to ensure that, through the UN or outside it.

During the non-aligned era some nations suggested positive neutrality. Something along this line could be useful once again.