The next Cold War may have already begun

What Arabic-language commentators are saying about regional politics.

Ukrainian border guards train in Kiev. An Arabic commentator views the Ukraine impasse as an indicator of a new Cold War. (Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters)

The impasse in Syria and the Ukrainian crisis may have heralded the beginning of a new Cold War, according to one regional paper. The balance of power in this region is slowly tilting towards the East, according to reports, now that the Gulf countries have found themselves “deceived” by the policies of US president Barack Obama.

The Sharjah-based daily Al Khaleej's editorial board wrote that "attitudes and actions" of both the White House and the Kremlin with respect to each other indicated growing distrust. It said a new Cold War was either looming or had already begun.

“Matters are heading towards further deterioration, with the return of an arms race, as was the case before the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s,” the editorial said.

Al Khaleej noted American plans to deploy long-range missiles in Europe to complement its defence shield and the Russians' response – adding 40 ballistic intercontinental missiles to their defence system.

“Current Cold War indicators reveal that the conflict between Moscow and western countries has begun to take a serious turn and that security challenges in Ukraine, in the Baltic States and in the Arab region are but some of its facets,” the paper said, adding that the current manouevring was about shaping the new world order.

“The conflict is in its infancy, but it seems as though the world will pay a heavy price until positions are defined,” the paper concluded.

In the pan-Arab Al Hayat, Jihad Al Khazen argued that in light of recent international and regional developments, Saudi Arabia should be allowed to have a nuclear weapons programme.

“I say it loud and clear, Saudi Arabia must acquire nuclear arms,” he wrote.

“King Salman can agree with Pakistan tomorrow about buying nuclear bombs from them because Saudi Arabia financed the Pakistani nuclear programme and has saved its economy many times.”

Al Khazen conceded that Saudi Arabia might face international penalties if it tried to acquire nuclear weapons, but he noted that its vast oil reserves put it “in a position to penalise others and not the other way round”.

“Oil drives the world economy and Saudi Arabia is the biggest oil-producing country in the world,” he wrote.

Al Khazen said that the agenda of the recent meeting between the Saudi defence minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Russian president Vladimir Putin included Syria, bilateral trade and a deal that could lead to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Saudi Arabia.

“I call for cooperation that would lead to the production of a nuclear bomb, as Israel has one and Iran’s programme is under way,” he wrote. “This implies that Saudi Arabia is in danger.”

Al Khazen said Saudi officials had noted that the framework agreement between the P5+1 countries and Iran was “unclear” as to whether Tehran’s weapons programme would be put to one side, and therefore all options should be on the table for Saudi Arabia.

Translated by Carla Mizra

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