COHEN: No ‘reset’ on Russia yet

COMMENTARY:

Vice President Joe Biden suggested at the Munich international security conference Feb. 7 that America push “the reset button” on relations with Russia. The Obama administration, however, shouldn’t allow Moscow to pocket gains it has recently made in Eurasia. A “carrots-and-cakes” approach to the Kremlin won’t work.

The Kremlin is so concerned with expanding its sphere of influence in Eurasia that even today’s severe economic crisis - which has seen the ruble plunge 50 percent against the dollar, and the Moscow stock market capitalization drop 80 percent - hasn’t slowed its push into the “near abroad.”

Washington’s wake-up call should have been the eviction notice that President Kurmanbek Bakiyev of Kyrgyzstan served to the U.S. military. With Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at his side, Mr. Bakiyev announced in Moscow Feb. 4 that he wants the United States to leave Manas Air Base, a key U.S. military cargo hub at the airport of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

The U.S. Air Force used Manas since the fall of 2001 to ferry troops and materiel in and out of Afghanistan. Yet, judging by Joe Biden’s reaction, the Obama administration doesn’t want to tease the bear, or worse, is not concerned about Mr. Bakiyev’s demands, instigated by Russia.

It should be. With the shorter supply route through Pakistan under increasing attacks by the Taliban (a key bridge through the Khyber Pass was blown up earlier this month), the longer but safer Central Asian supply route is taking on added importance.

For years, both Russia and China pressured Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to kick out the U.S. bases. In 2005, Uzbekistan gave in, evicting the U.S. from the Karshi Khanabad air base.

The Tony Soprano approach to geopolitics seems to work. After causing Manas to shut down, Moscow is now offering its own aircraft to ferry ammo and supplies to Afghanistan. As they say in Northern New Jersey waste management business, “You can use only our trucks and garbage dumps. If you want to use your own, fuggedaboutit!”

This year, Moscow offered the cash-strapped Kyrgyz government a $2 billion credit package at below-market rates, and $150 million in grants. This package trumped $150 million a year in assistance Kyrgyzstan was receiving from the United States.

Russia also used covert action and influence operations to instigate anti-American street demonstrations and a media campaign, thereby pressuring the Kyrgyz regime.

Simultaneously, the Russia-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) of the Commonwealth of Independence States (CIS) announced the creation of a Rapid Reaction Force (RRF). The backbone of the new 15,000-strong RRF will be Russian paratroops.

The RRF can be used not only to fight external enemies, but to put down “velvet revolutions” and quell popular unrest, which the authoritarian regimes comprising the CSTO unanimously abhor.

The Russian military also announced the establishment of three military bases in secessionist Abkhazia. They extend Russia’s power projection capabilities into the Southern Caucasus, threatening the already precarious position of Georgia, and the major oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea to Turkey and Europe.

Russia has taken additional steps to secure its clout from Poland to the Pacific. It initiated a joint air-and-missile defense system with Belarus and announced the creation of a $10 billion stabilization fund for the CIS countries, most of which ($7.5 billion) Moscow will front. The reason for the spending spree is simple: money and weapons buy allies.

President Medvedev has announced the United States needs to come to Moscow - not to the capitals of Eurasian independent states - to ask for transit to Afghanistan. Thus, Russia can first create a problem, and then provide a solution - at a price.

Story Continues →