Although America has some edge over its two rivals, no one can dispute the fact that the only three countries on the planet capable of looking each other in the eye are the United States, China and Russia.
History and experience have shown that these three often take advantage of each other depending on the occasion. One would not think twice before weighing in to fill any political or economic vacuum left by the other. Each does this without apologising to the other. It is perhaps the reality of life when it comes to superpower rivalry.
It is only this rivalry that could have caused Beijing and Moscow to eavesdrop on the American president’s calls from sources inside foreign governments and to intercept communications between officials. It is also this rivalry that sometimes accounts for some decisions by any of these three which outsiders may find strange.
For example, Moscow refused to boycott a Saudi Arabian conference yesterday. It, as a result and not surprisingly, secured a $5 billion investment in its natural gas sector and the promise of lucrative contracts including a Hermitage museum franchise. Controversial Prince Mohammed bin Salman specially thanked Russian and Chinese officials for attending the so-called “Davos in the desert” despite a widespread international boycott.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia was in Moscow lat year
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