Medvedev Speaks: it all sounds familiar

This week, President Medvedev granted Prime Minister Putin unprecedented authority over foreign affairs. This move is a clear break from Medvedev's March 2008 promise to retain presidential control over international matters, and demonstrates how state authority (de facto and de jure) is shifting to Putin's office.

As a result, it comes as little surprise that President Medvedev sounded remarkably similar to Putin during his first major speech on foreign policy. “With the end of the cold war, there is no reason to have a bloc mentality,” he said without the least hint of irony over the SCO. Medvedev added, “There is also no reason for paternalism, where some countries decide everything for others.” Instead, he would prefer that Russia assume “greater responsibility for solving problems on both a regional and global scale.”

A capital idea!

Medvedev could begin by making good on Russia’s agreements to resolve frozen conflicts in Moldova and Abkhazia/Georgia. In addressing broader issues of global importance, like energy security, Medvedev can also uphold Russia’s commitments to the G-8 and resume oil deliveries to the Czech Republic.

Unfortunately, there is little indication that Medvedev has the authority, or desire, to act on these issues. Instead, the Kremlin’s rhetoric will remain unplugged from reality. That's bad news for the world, but good news for Eternal Remont. To steal from Mark Katz at George Mason University, Putin has saved everyone's career from ruin.