Morgan Brobyn – Political Director – Westminster Russia Forum
The recently published report UK Foreign Affairs Committee on the UK’s relations with Russia should be welcomed as a much-needed breath of fresh air. The report very candidly realises the differences between our two countries in the context of historical interpretation and attitudes to the perceived international order as it currently stands. I would say that many, if not most policy-makers and political elites, including everyday Russians and Britons would agree with the former. Most of the world was divided along ideological lines for over half a century and several generations, with each side wholly entrenched in its own perception of ‘good versus evil’, there would undoubtedly be differences of historical interpretation, in some cases major and in other cases minor differences. On the latter, those will be more substantial differences, that may be more difficult to overcome, but regardless of whatever view one holds in on the state of the international order, we should all agree there have been changes or challenges and many of these changes will come from internal domestic politics and not external actors.
The UK’s EU referendum and Brexit sent political shockwaves (not the economic ones the IMF inaccurately predicated before the referendum) not just through Europe but around the world. This has not led to the rise of eurosceptism across Europe many believe, because it was already there, it merely added a little more fuel to what was already a raging bonfire under the feet of those in Brussels. A more assertive China, a more belligerent North Korea, the threat of Daesh and other similarly abhorrent Islamist extremist groups operating throughout the Middle East and North Africa. A key area in which the UK and NATO allies would be able to maximise their efforts in working alongside Russia, the report indeed recognises UK Government officials have accused Russia of war crimes in Syria, but have failed to produce a single piece of evidence to support these claims. These are all challenges to the international order, or threats the international order must address, and the UK must play a lead role in facing their challenges.
The Foreign Affairs recognises areas in which the UK and her allies could work with Russia, and this is a very positive and sensible realisation. UK-Russia relations are at the worst they have been since the end of the Cold War, and this has only been to the detriment of both countries when it comes to these mutually important key areas. The Foreign Affairs Committee understands the UK Government cannot continue relive or attempt to revive the Cold War, and that refusal the engage with the Russian Government is not a viable long-term foreign policy option for the UK. I would add doing so is not only disadvantages us but also pour allies, the British and Russian people have healthy cultural relations despite the ongoing political difficulties, this puts the UK in a good position to act as a potential interlocutor between our allies with even greater and more historically strained relations and Russia. Talking to Moscow in no way invalidates our values or compromises the trust or relations with our friends and allies across the world, this current and previous Government has had and continues to have dialogue with nations that we share barely any or no social, political or ethical commonality, especially if it is in regards to discussing greater and more serious global challenges and issues.
The UK must have conversations with Russia, many of which may be uncomfortable as the report rightly points out, but our Government has a duty to try it’s hardest to overcome these differences and work together on things such as counter-terrorism, stability in the Middle East, energy security and climate issues where and when applicable. This in turn may provide the basis over time to rebuild trust and further strengthen relations between our countries. The report called for greater support for small businesses in Russia in non-sanctioned sectors, but fell short of calling for removal of these sanctions, that disproportionately affect Central and Eastern European countries in terms of their import and export markets, with countries such as Hungary losing up to 50m euros each day – as pointed out not so long ago by Hungary’s President at an international meeting between the two country’s leaders.
The Foreign Affairs Committee has said we cannot not talk to Russia, we cannot ignore these differences either, but we must not let them ruin what has in the past and will be in the future a mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries and we must try to work towards common goals, which is what The Westminster Russia Forum continues to make the case for.
