Why are Western Europeans and Russians always fighting with each other, from Charles XII to Napoleon to Hitler? Are we sworn enemies, or is it just that everyone else doesn’t want us to be friends?
What would it have looked like? A free trade area from Lisbon to Vladivostok, as Putin put it at the beginning of his career. European innovation combined with Russian raw materials and cheap energy. A historical empire that could create security and independence for its citizens.
It would have been a tough nut to crack for the US (the Anglosphere), the Arab world and China. They would do everything in their power to divide us. From protracted border conflicts to censorship and hatred in the media. Never would we be allowed to get closer to each other, never would we be allowed to talk and trade in peace.
If we forget for a second that Putin is the evil dictator and we are democratic knights in shining armour. If we look at the whole thing geopolitically, and look 20, 50 or even 100 years into the future. What would actually be best for us? Good neighbours, or distant and superior friends on the other side of the Atlantic?
How would such cooperation work? Would Europe be overwhelmed by Russia? Or are we equal players on the field? Perhaps Europe is even the stronger party, at least in normal circumstances, when we don’t have the clown government in Brussels. Western Europe dominates in terms of population and innovation, while Russia has size and raw materials, as well as ever-growing innovation and development.
Rumour has it that the Russians are now manufacturing their own processors, on a small scale admittedly, but enough for military purposes. Soon they will have their own passenger aircraft. And then there is their existing space programme, heavy industry, self-sufficient agriculture and ingenious military solutions. Perhaps they no longer need Europe? If there was a window open, it is slowly closing.
