Miliband’s Visit to Russia furthers relations with the EU rather than Britain

David Miliband’s visit to Moscow has had only symbolic significance for the bilateral relations, leaving all the sore issues effectively intact. Agreements on multilateral problems such as Iran’s nuclear programme, Afghanistan and Middle East settlement, and nuclear disarmament, are important but can hardly make headlines. At present, there is no obvious need for either government to demonstrate political will and make sacrifices for rapid rapproachment. (Unlike in US-Russia relations where new presidents on both sides needed to mark a clear departure from their predecessors, resulting in nuclear détente).

The visit is best understood if seen not as a purely Russo-British affair, but rather a development in Russia-EU partnership. David Miliband is currently being slated for EU’s foreign policy chief position. His increased rapport with Russia could strengthen  his personal professional credentials, to balance the already effective ties with the U.S. -  to the benefit Europe’s foreign relations. Indeed, the most notable development of the visit so far is Miliband’s cautious support for considering Russia’s initiative of a new security framework for Europe, something that has fallen on deaf ears with Europe so far. The progress on EU-Russia security dialogue is an unexpected – but nonetheless significant outcome of Miliband’s trip to Moscow.