Obama’s Putin Snub Puts New Focus On Moscow’s China Ties

[Purveyor]

When leaders of the G20 assemble in St Petersburg next month, all eyes will be on the body language between the host Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama, who this week snubbed the Russian leader by cancelling a separate summit in Moscow.

But the cameras will also be keen to capture the chemistry between Mr Putin and Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader who has quietly encouraged the growing rapprochement between the two nations.

Disenchanted by its recent dealings with Mr Putin, the Obama administration is publicly downgrading the sort of relationship it expects to have with Russia. Yet one unintended consequence of such an approach could be to push Russia and China closer together in ways that will not be helpful to US interests.

“These days, Russian and Chinese leaders exchange more phone calls than either does with the US,” says Dimitri Simes, president of the Center for the National Interest, a Washington think-tank.

MORE...

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0016add8-004c-11e3-ba6b-00144feab7de.html#axzz2bUEHCMjH

[dipsydoodle]

1. Russia and China got closer back in late 2010

when their currencies started to trade against each other and in so doing bypassed use of the US$

Now expected that Russia will strengthen ties with Europe and Asia.