Twenty 5 years after the September 11 assaults, the legacy of 9/11 nonetheless overshadows geopolitics. The assaults not solely led to the loss of life of just about 3,000 individuals, however additionally they set the West on a collision course with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Now, 1 / 4 of a century later, the West and Russia stand on reverse sides of the Ukraine conflict, in addition to different points.
However issues weren’t at all times so dire. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow was focused on bettering ties with the West. Submit 9/11, Western nations and Russia have been united within the battle in opposition to terrorism.
Vladimir Putin was the primary international chief to name and provide help to then US President George W. Bush after 9/11, as per iNews. In a televised tackle, Putin pledged, “Within the title of Russia, I wish to say to the American individuals – we’re with you.”
How Russia’s Relationship With The West Modified
Russia was useful when the US and its allies attacked Afghanistan to depose the Taliban for internet hosting al-Qaeda, which deliberate and executed the September 11 assaults. Russia shared essential data with the US about Afghanistan.
Putin didn’t increase objections to the institution of US bases within the area both, as per iNews.
Why Russia Modified Its Stance
Issues modified in 2003 after the US invasion of Iraq. Moscow had intensive financial pursuits in Baghdad.
The US attacked Iraq in 2003 on the idea of claims that the nation had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) which may be used in opposition to Western targets. The claims later proved to be false.
Nevertheless, it was too late to vary issues by then.
In 2023, Sir David Manning, a international coverage adviser to Tony Blair who later turned the ambassador to Washington through the Iraq Struggle, mentioned in an interview that Putin “was resentful that Russian pursuits have been apparently being disregarded” in Iraq regardless of Moscow’s cooperative relationship with the US submit 9/11.
Putin noticed the invasion of Iraq for example that Washington was utilizing the specter of WMD to justify regime change.
Tony Blair’s chief of workers Jonathan Powell informed iNews in 2023 that Iraq “was actually what broke it for us with Putin”.
Over time, the connection between Russia and the US deteriorated attributable to a number of elements. Moscow’s narrative in regards to the root causes consists of the Iraq Struggle, the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) to the Baltic states, Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and US help for the “color revolutions” in Eurasia, as per a report by suppose tank Brookings.
A long time later, Russia and the West stand on reverse sides, viewing the worldwide enviornment as a zero-sum recreation the place there is just one winner.
