this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2025
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I mean, what would Europe need from russia? We're currently more of a "global power" then they are. Only countries seriously aligning themselves with Russia those days are either extremely weak and near russia and so have 0 choice in the matter or try to play both sides for fun and profit LARPing as Tito.
There's a reason why the peace talks for Ukraine are between the US and Russia and the EU isn't invited. Nobody takes Europe seriously anymore. The only thing resembling global power that Europeans have is their remaining colonies.
Cheap energy, labor, and resources and a slightly greater degree of independence from America.
Russia also still holds a lot of their traditional soft power in many countries, including several EU countries. They also greatly increased their softpower by helping to get far right parties into power or at least signinificant influence in several EU countries (like Orban or Germany just 2 days ago).
On the other hand Russia manouvered itself into a very weak geostrategical position lately (Ukraine and Syria). Everyone noticed that and this will likely lead to some restructuring in several regions, unlikely to be in Russias favour.
I currently find it really hard to make assumptions about Russias role in the mid-term future. That is also, why I didn't mention Russia in my post.
I don't see any country being able to engineer coups by supporting terrorists as effectively as the US, so I don't see Russia or other local powers replacing the US's influence in countries where the left presents a meaningful alternative to neoliberalism.
The UAE defintly showed that other countries can do this.
Resources is big one, including infrastructure already in place for energy. Most of the world sides with Russia through this conflict. Even some US colonies have done well playing both sides. Russia is also an export market. World needs Russia to limit global warming. Futile attempts to destroy it, won't work.
yes, sure, but resources, labour and a market isn't enough to elevate you to a global superpower. I'm not proposing EU going full Juche, just why would anyone agree to anything better for russia than being equal trade partners. All those things are great and useful, sure, but you're able to get them elsewhere. If you want special treatment you need to bring something unique to the table. Like the US used to be able to bring.
I don't think anybody except maybe putin is trying to do that. At this point everyone would love russia just fucking off and being normal.