At a time when tensions with Europe are rising, Russian leader Vladimir Putin has convened leaders of former Soviet republics under the banner of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and flaunted the unity of the regional bloc.
At a time when tensions with Europe are rising, Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday conveyed an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and flaunted the unity of the regional bloc.
In the summit at St Petersburg, Putin flaunted the CIS as a Russia-led group of former Soviet republics that spoke in one voice — in sharp contrast of his European rivals who stood divided on the course of action on common challenges even under the umbrella of the European Union (EU).
“It is of fundamental importance that the countries of the Commonwealth maintain similar or identical approaches to the key challenges of our time, both global and regional. All CIS states are unanimous in their support for the formation of a fair world order founded on the universally recognized principles of international law, with a central coordinating role for the United Nations,” said Putin, according to Tass news agency.
Putin further said that relevant agencies across the CIS stay in constant contact on issues of security.
“The fight against terrorism and extremism, organized crime, drug trafficking and corruption remains a key area of cooperation between Commonwealth states. Close operative contacts between security agencies and competent bodies have been established for these purposes,” said Putin.
The leaders of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan attended the summit. Leaders of Azerbaijan and Moldova did not attend the summit.
While the reason for Azerbaijan’s absence was not known, Moldova has been withdrawing from the group since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Previously, Georgia withdrew from the group after Russia invaded it in 2008 and Ukraine withdrew after Russia’s 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea.
Putin’s power projection with CIS
Putin has projected CIS over the years as a Russia-led group of former Soviet republics.
As parts of his ‘sphere of influence’ approach to international relations, Putin has used CIS to emphasise that Russia still holds primacy in its neighbourhood.
The CIS was founded in 1991 with a focus on Eurasian Soviet republics. Other members like Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined the Nato and EU.
Analysts have described CIS as a tool of Russian ‘soft’ power instead of direct hard power as such hard power is asserted via other groupings like the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in the military sphere and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the economic sphere.
The membership of CIS, CSTO, and EAEU is overlapping that allows Putin separate forums to flex soft and hard power muscles in the Eurasian neighbourhood and assert power in what he considers Russia’s sphere of influence.
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