Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua (AFP)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attempted to allay global fears that Moscow is trying to amass access to natural resources this week during a trip through Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia and Angola as he signed billion dollar energy deals providing Russia a greater foothold in Africa .
Despite Medvedev’s touting of cooperation and economic benefits, it’s hard to see Mededev’s actions other than a resource grab.
His investment tactics emulate China and its recent foray into Africa. China has invested billions on the continent to lock up commodities to feed its domestic companies. Unlike China, Russia has abundant domestic natural resources to meet its domestic needs. Russia’s investment strategy is more about amassing influence over the global economy.
Boris Ivanov, Chief of Gazprom International, spoke more candidly about Russian ambitions. Referring to the building of an eventual Trans-Saharan gas pipeline linking Nigeria to Europe, he stated, “whoever is located on the valves is the king.” Such sentiment sounds like “the guys with the guns make the rules.” He didn’t mince words about acquisitions in Nambia either, commenting that Namibian assets hold “strategic interest” for Russia.
Such comments make many nervous. As Ivanov noted, “Europe not only knows, it is ‘worried’ about this [Trans Saharan pipeline] plan.” In Russian foreign policy, access to resources outweighs customer satisfaction. Europe learned that the cold way last winter when gas supplies sent via Ukraine were cut due to a dispute between the two nations.
