JOIN USThe just-concluded G20 summit at Brisbane will be remembered not so much for decisions to trigger economic growth as for the bullying behaviour of Western leaders towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A forum of 20 globally significant economies, the G20’s primary objective is co-operation and consultation on matters pertaining to international financial stability. Security and geo-political issues do not fall within its ambit.
Yet, Western leaders came to Brisbane bristling with ideas on how to isolate Putin for Russia’s alleged role in the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine was not on the official agenda of the G20 meeting but western leaders focussed on it, hectoring Putin throughout the summit.
None of them displayed even an iota of diplomatic finesse. Host Australia set the tone a month ago, when Prime Minister Tony Abbott threatened to “shirt-front” Putin.
A term used in Australian football to refer to aggressive slamming into an opponent, ‘shirt fronting’ is loutish behaviour, hardly the kind of behaviour or language one would expect from a prime minister, even if he was an amateur boxer in his student days.
Abbott followed that up by sending a junior minister to receive the Russian president at the airport. Later, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper rebuked Putin and told him to “get out of Ukraine.”
Other western leaders were no less churlish. If their objective was to make Putin appear isolated on the world stage, it didn’t work too well as India, China and Brazil were among several G20 countries that remained focussed on the economic agenda, avoided ganging up against the Russian president and in fact, engaged positively with him.
Putin’s abrupt exit from the summit evoked much mirth in the western media where it has been portrayed as a flight under pressure.
It isn’t a laughing matter as it does not bode well for anyone. His departure indicates that he is done with dialoguing with the West. It will stiffen his resolve to not concede ground on the Ukraine crisis.
It has boosted his ratings at home, which could encourage him to take a tougher stance in the days to come.
Western leaders are puffing up their chests over their blunt talk with Putin. But they have not emerged stronger from the face-off in Brisbane. Shirt-fronting on the football field leaves both sides with bruises and possible concussions.
Put simply, it is stupid strategy. The impact of the head-butting at Brisbane is no less foolish. Its impact is deadlier as it takes the West and Russia closer to a new Cold War.