The US analytical publication Breitbart wrote about a new period in relations between Russia and Japan. The UN General Assembly has not passed in vain for Japan and Russia, which have agreed on further partnership and cooperation in both the economic and strategic spheres. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to strengthen the relations between the two countries, which have historically been weak. Abe, who was recently re-elected and will hold the post of prime minister for a further three years, has selected as one of the priorities of the foreign policy of Japan cooperation with the Russian Federation, for which he has a good reason and background.
In particular, Japan is interested in buying Russian oil. Currently, 8% of Japan's oil imports are represented by Russian resources. Despite the fact that there are several differences between Tokyo and Moscow, such as over the disputed islands and the anti-Russian sanctions, which Japan joined, trade and economic relations between the two countries continue to develop.
In addition, Russia and Japan are actively involved in solving the Syrian crisis. The Japanese government is ready to provide a significant amount of money ($810 million) to help refugees from Syria and Iran, and another $750 million will be allocated for infrastructure projects, and Russia, in turn, provides military support to the Syrian leadership in the fight against ISIS.
Russia and Japan are going to continue the dialogue and improve relations after a long period of conflict and mutual resentment that cannot but worry the US and the EU. However, the Western countries will have to accept the fact that, despite the criticism of the Russian government, the number of partners of Russia is growing, which confirms the return of the state to the world political arena.
The US edition Bloomberg Business says that Europe cannot do without Russian gas. Russia's decision to extend the natural gas pipeline that would bypass Ukraine threatens the energy security of the Eastern Europe. The European Commission has analyzed the legal and political aspects of the Nord Stream-2 project, and came to the conclusion that if the transit through Ukraine will be closed, Eastern Europe faces energy security problems.
The expansion of the pipelines for Russian gas supplies caused criticism in Slovakia and Poland, because it weakens the EU energy strategy aimed at the integration of gas and energy resources of the region with minimal interference from Russia. However, because of the conflict in Ukraine, the European Community will have to accept the fact that the Nord Stream-2 project is the only alternative in gas supplies to the EU.
Russia, in turn, hopes that by 2019 – the expiry date of the contract on the transit of gas through Ukraine – the EU will not prevent the implementation of the Nord Stream -2 project, as this would primarily has a negative impact on Europe, which needs the gas that only Russia can provide today.
