Blindspot #44 - Eyes on Iran to understand Russia’s re-imagined global strategy

Blindspot #044 - Eyes on Iran to understand Russia’s re-routed, re-oriented & re-imagined global strategyShow more

Buiteboer // From Bunker 42
www.buiteboer.co.za
19/07/22

We have covered Larry Fink, from BlackRock, pronouncing globalisation dead on arrival in Ukraine, due to sanctions imposed on Russia. In Blindspot 33.3 we asked whether Vladmir PUTIN is the face of Eurasian resistance. Then by the time number 43 was produced, we confirmed that not only is he the face of Eurasian resistance, but, also that of Eurasian integration.

Now, in #44 we look at why all eyes should be on Tehran this week to catch a glimpse of the real-world unfolding of a fundamentally physically re-routed, geo strategically re-oriented, and re-imagined regional and global strategy of the Russian Federation. All as a result of economic war actions taken by the west.

For example, in Blindspot 43 we covered the creation of a new rail corridor, connecting St Petersburg, all the way through Iran, Tajikistan, to Mumbai in India. This is a concrete example of how not just Russia, but a host of nations in the broader Eurasian environment, have been hard at work to change logistics networks, and create new avenues for the movement of goods, due to sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation. This more than 8000km of rail is not a mere sanctions-busting corridor, it is a significant development for the larger Eurasian project.

The 19 July Tehran Summit

On the 19th of July the Iranian President will host his Russian and Turkish counterparts for a Summit focused on the Syrian conflict. But, in the previous week, it is notable that President Biden visited the region, drumming up support for a counter-Iran alliance of sorts - a plan which left with him in his back pocket, being flatly rejected by major regional powers such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia. This means, directly on the heels of Mr Biden’s short and somewhat embarrassing sojourn, Iran hosts a Summit involving Turkey and Russia.

WION News Reports on 19 July:
“Iran President Ebrahim Raisi is due to host Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Tehran on Tuesday (July 19)… The three-way summit is first hosted by Iran's president since he took office in 2021… The three leaders are meeting on the heels of US President Joe Biden's Middle East visit during which he visited Israel and Saudi Arabia, both regional foes of Iran… the trilateral summit is ostensibly centred on Syria, as part of the so-called Astana peace process to end more than 11 years of conflict in the Arab country. Iran, Turkey and Russia are involved in Syria conflict. Iran and Russia are supporting President Bashar al-Assad's regime while Turkey backs the rebel forces which are fighting against the regime.”