Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer says the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran shows the limits of Russia’s global partnerships.
“If you are now a partner of Russia, in most cases, if you get into trouble, you can count on supportive words from Moscow, but not much else,” Pifer tells Independence Avenue Media.
Russia and Iran ratified a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty last year deepening political and security cooperation between the two countries.
China, which signed its own 25-year strategic cooperation agreement with Iran in 2021, has reacted similarly to the current crisis.
“I think what you’re seeing right now is China, like Russia, has been expressing some verbal support and some criticism of the American military action,” says Pifer. “But China’s not really doing anything.”
Pifer says an extended Middle East conflict can also have consequences for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Western-supplied air defense munitions, now being used in a new conflict zone, may be less likely to reach Kyiv. Russia’s economy may also benefit from an increase in the price of oil and gas.
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