Is a Cold War between the East and the West on the verge of repeating itself? – Part 1
The Cold War is on the verge of repeating itself but with a slight difference. Where the last Cold War was primarily caused by an arms race, territorial fears and differences in ideology we now stand on the brink of a Cold War caused by an energy race.
Putin is easily the shrewdest leader of a major global power in recent times, he is manipulating the governments of Europe, the US, the western press and his own people with ease. Putin has allowed continental europe to become dependant on Russian gas supplies whilst at the same time he toys with two major UK based energy companies, inviting them to tap into Russian energy supplies whilst constantly moving the goalposts. At the same time Putin stirs up tension with the US by reacting defensively toward their euro-based defence programme and niggles the UK as Russian jets repeatedly enter their airspace and by refusing to allow the extradition of a Russian national to the UK. At home Putin needs to do little to motivate his people who are on the defensive in the post-soviet era and are having to watch the US and UK companies infringe on their former territories and the old enemy NATO close in ever nearer to their borders.
There is no doubt that Putin’s intent is to make Russia the energy superpower and soon the choice will come for Germany and France amongst others. Do they take the side of the US who’ve offered protection for so long or place their allegiances with Russia who can supply them with energy?
On the verge of a Cold War? It has already started but the stakes have changed.