Putin's westward drive

It is tempting these days to refer to Alexander Putin as Russia's modern Peter the Great. He has made serious concessions by agreeing on the new nuclear arms reduction accord with the United States. In other words, he accommodated Washington's insistence on the flexible nature of the treaty by agreeing that the stored nuclear warheads should not be destroyed. He and Mrs. Putin have entertained President Bush and his wife as if they had been close neighbors for quite some time. The American president has reciprocated his host's drive towards the West by softening Putin's so-far poor record concerning the full implementation of human rights, especially in the field of press freedom.

Tomorrow, President Putin will sign a new accord with NATO's 19 members in a solemn ceremony at an air force base outside Rome. This new record will set up a NATO-Russian board, dubbed the "19+1 formula", which will hammer out common positions in specific areas, such as anti-terrorism activities.

The obvious question that should be raised is, what is driving Putin to push Russia closer to the West. Just as Peter the Great after discovering Russia's backwardness as compared to European countries and even with the Ottoman Empire, in the late 17th century looked towards the West, so Putin too appears eager to mend his country's backwardness. The tragic events of Sept. 11 offered a strategic opportunity for Russia's modern Peter the Great to link itself with the West's most powerful country, namely the United States. This, however, does not mean that Putin's Russia is approaching the U.S. empty-handed. Since Washington is keen to tap energy sources outside the OPEC countries and not be too dependent on Middle Eastern oil, Russia's increasing oil exports offers a welcome alternative.

Whether or not Alexander Putin will succeed in modernizing Russia's economy and at the same time enhance democracy is the unfolding story of the 21st century that needs to be carefully watched. In the short term, however, Russia, as far as the U.S. is concerned, is a welcome new ally in the war against terrorism.