Alwaght- In the eyes of many Russian analysts and politicians, ascension of Donald Trump to power as president of the United States marked a turning point in the political relations between Washington and Moscow. The speculations by the experts predominantly foresaw that the American-Russian tensions that during the administration of the former US President Barack Obama touched their climactic levels will see their winding down during Trump’s presidency. The predictions even went farther, believing that the US and even the European sanctions that were imposed on Russian due to the Ukraine crisis will be lifted because of the personal will displayed by both Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia to expand contacts for wider partnership.
But things did not go as the predictions saw, and on March 24 in a surprise move the US Department of State imposed sanctions on 30 companies, majorly from Russia, China, North Korea, and the UAE, as well as individuals from 10 countries for what it called contribution to development of weapons of mass destruction and violation of Non-proliferation Act, an international Treaty meant to curb nuclear arms stockpiling. The limitations have, meanwhile, targeted 8 Russian firms among others. Upon hearing the announcement of the US State Department on the case, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the Washington measure.
On March 27, Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry’s spokeswoman, has criticized the American anti-Russian companies sanctions, saying that they came just in direct contradiction to the Washington pledges and rhetoric to fight terrorism, especially in Syria.
"This step does not agree with the statements heard from Washington on the priority of the fight against terrorism, including the one that built a nest on the Syrian territory. On the contrary, it completely contradicts this line and undermines the perspectives of building a broad multilateral cooperation aimed at destroying the ISIS [Daesh, a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries] and other terrorist groups, that pose threat to all countries, including the United States," Zakharova said in a statement published on the ministry’s page on Facebook.
She added that “the United States once again follows those that made it their priority to destroy cooperation between Russia and the United States.”
She added that these sides have been actually creating enemies for the US that actually do not exist, stressing that "such policy does not meet the US security interests."
"Decision of the US administration to impose restrictive measures against several Russian entities, including those in aircraft industry and pilots training, causes bewilderment and disappointment. Of course, this new portion of sanctions causes no serious troubles for us, but the United States did not even state the reason behind it, simply referring to their legislation which bans them from cooperation with Iran and Syria," her Facebook statement read.
The reaction by the foreign ministry’s spokeswoman are analyzable from two dimensions: first, the remarks by Zakharova apparently indicate that the restrictions on Russian companies are coming in surprise to the Russians as they wish that the new American leader takes the course of developing the bilateral ties, instead of widening the gaps. Second, Zakharova's condemnation statement carried a kind of warning about the fact that the Washington acts of this type could prolong the West Asia region’s crises and stifle the efforts that can lead to agreement on mobilization of forces to battle against terrorism in Syria and Iraq.
What is really behind the US new round of sanctioning the Russian firms?
1. Pressing for reactivating Washington’s unilateralism and hegemony worldwide
The first aim behind putting name of 8 Russian companies on the list of new American restrictions is the Trump’s effort to restore the US overbearing and hegemonic spirit. His behavior after his arrival at the White House after January 20 glaringly shows that Trump well pursues the American exceptionalism and unilateralism. As part of this strategy, the White House has begun process to reduce joint work with the international organizations, including the UN itself. The new American approach manifests that Washington’s freshly rising will for unilateral steps are not afraid to flout the international law.
Konstantin Kosachev, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council of the Russian State Duma, has noted that the new State Department's sanctions against a set of firms and individuals lay bare the fact that Washington wants to, with all instruments at its disposal, show that the American laws are above the international laws. He continued that Trump’s administration struggled to signal to the world that it can do whatever it desires, including sanctioning China and Russia, no matter if they are international powers. This, more than any other thing, accentuates that the US can still make decisions and exercise influence on the different global issues unilaterally, though the global realities prove against that, according to the Russian official.
2. Warning Russian leaders before expected Putin-Trump meeting
Still another issue raised in the political and governing system in the US is that the political and constitutional institutions in the country always block the way of personal measures when the need arises. Trump's rise to power made the American decision making circles worried that he will likely, through some uncalculated steps, weaken the US in the face of Russia. The new president’s personal desire for work with Russia's Putin can establish an unprecedented form of the US-Russia collaboration, something triggered further concern in the US.
Toward pressing Trump’s administration to review ideas of closer relations with Moscow, first the Democrats put strains on the new administration's national security advisor Michael Flynn by revealing his relations with the Russians, including the Russian ambassador to the US. The outcome was his resignation. In next steps, the congressmen and senators started their pressures on the State Department to steer clear of stronger relations with Russia. The anti-Russian efforts pursued by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations concluded in a set of new sanctions against 8 Russian companies.
By doing so, the power circles inside the US sent an apparent message, warning Trump and even Putin that all kinds of moves for improvement of ties between the two administrations will be closely watched, and that Trump will not be permitted to take steps for ties with Moscow just beyond the allowed levels.
3. Undermining Russian arms exports
Still another approach that drives the new anti-Russian sanctions by the State Department is Washington’s attitude to seek interests in competition with Moscow. By introducing Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of the world’s biggest oil company ExxonMobil, as the new secretary of state, the new administration manifested that it will put the economic interests first in its relations with the other countries. On the other side, the new round of sanctions clearly eye expanding the American economic interests as well as impairing the rivals.
The new American package of sanctions against Russia includes restrictive measures against state firms for arms imports and exports, including Rosoboronexport, Bazalt, plane manufacturers, and a firm specializing in industrial designing. The expanded list obviously expresses the US aim to plague the Russian military exports, which at the same time could mean boost of the American weapons sales.
4. Undermining Russian position in Ukraine and West Asia
Moreover, there are other aims behind the new anti-Moscow sanctions, majorly in relation to the Russia-US rivalry in areas like the Ukraine and West Asian crises. The US and the European Union announced inclusive sanctions against Russia on the heels of 2014 crisis of Ukraine and particularly following the Russian-held referendum on Crimea Peninsula's integration into the Russian territory. The Russians set their heart on US sanctions relief upon Trump’s assumption of power early this year. But to their frustration, the State Department insisted that it will never recognize the Crimea referendum held on March 16, 2014. Two days ago, Mark Toner, the State Department’s spokesman, insisted that the Russian sanctions will remain in place as long as Russia controls the Crimea Peninsula.
“Russia staged an illegitimate referendum in which the residents of Crimea were compelled to vote while heavily armed foreign forces occupied their land,” a statement issued by Toner on March 16 read.
Even in more direct way, Secretary of State Tillerson during his meeting with Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine pledged that Washington will lift Russia sanctions only if Moscow observes the American conditions regarding the Ukrainian sovereignty. He said the US expects Russia to fully implement the Minsk agreements and stop “military occupation” of Donbass and Crimea. He warned that Washington’s restrictive measures against Moscow might stand firm in the future if the latter declines to address these demands. These remarks come as Kremlin had earlier said that Russia saw it unnecessary to answer any questions on Crimea, adding that the issue is purely Russian.
The new American sanctions make it clear that Washington will use economic tools to put further strains on Moscow on cases like Crimea and even Syria. The analysts suggest that if Russia insists on pressing forward with currently-held postures on Ukraine and fails to reach accord with the US on Syria, even close Trump-Putin ties cannot help de-escalation, something that will likely reflect negatively on Syrian crisis settlement and counterterror fight in West Asia.
