Why this year's Moscow security conference is special

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This year's Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) kicked off on Wednesday amid diplomatic tensions between Russia and the West over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain. Focused on the defeat of terrorists in Syria, it is also the first MCIS in the post-ISIL era.

Launched in 2012, the annual MCIS is seen as the Russian version of the well-known Munich Security Conference in Germany. It is organized by Russia's Ministry of Defense and attended by defense ministers from mostly non-Western countries as well as security experts.

As Russia-West relations reach one of the lowest points since the end of the Cold War, this year's two-day gathering in Moscow is closely watched across the globe.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu addresses the Moscow Conference on International Security in Moscow, Russia, April 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

Is Russia isolated?

Russia and the West are engaged in a diplomatic war over Moscow's alleged role in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal in Britain a month ago. Without concrete proof, the UK insists Russia was behind the incident – an accusation that Russia strongly denies.

Britain, the United States, Australia, EU members and NATO countries have ordered the expulsion of more than 150 Russian diplomats, trying to isolate Russia in the international community. Russia is also expelling the same number of Western diplomats and closing the US consulate in St. Petersburg in retaliation.

Despite Western solidarity in the isolation of Russia, the seventh MCIS shows the attempt to isolate Russia is not succeeding – Moscow still has plenty of friends. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, delegations from 95 countries, as well as 30 defense ministers, 15 general staff chiefs and deputy defense ministers are attending the event.

It is reported that high-profile participants include Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami, Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Pakistani Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Vietnam's Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, Singapore's Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defense Ong Ye Kung, and South African Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

"A thing to note is that the forum's popularity has been growing with every year," Shoigu said on Monday.

People attend the Moscow Conference on International Security in Moscow, Russia, April 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

China-Russia ties 'as firm as rock'

China has shown firm support for Russia by sending two state councilors to the country within a week.

In fact, Russia is the destination of Wei's first overseas trip after he assumed the positions of state councilor and defense minister in March. Commenting on Wei's visit, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said last week: "China and Russia are each other's primary and most important strategic partner of coordination. China-Russia relationship is the best major-country relationship in today's world. This relationship is as firm as a rock."

Wei's visit will help deepen cooperation between Chinese and Russian militaries, Ren added.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu welcomes Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe (R, Front) in Moscow, Russia, April 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

"The Chinese side came to let the Americans know about the close ties between the Russian and Chinese armed forces," the Chinese defense minister told his Russian counterpart during their talks ahead of the MCIS, RT reported Tuesday.

The other Chinese state councilor in Moscow is Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a working visit to Russia from Wednesday to Thursday. Wang is expected to brief Russian officials about developments on the Korean Peninsula and particularly the recent visit to Beijing by Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"China and Russia are developing closer ties not only due to their previous good cooperation but also because of changes in the international environment," Gao Fei, a professor of Russian studies at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. "Western countries are putting political pressure on Russia and the US is provoking China into a trade war."

Nevertheless, Beijing and Moscow will not form an alliance, Gao said. "The premise for forming an alliance is a shared enemy and China does not consider any country an enemy."

September 18, 2017: A Chinese naval fleet taking part in the "Joint Sea-2017" military exercises docks at the port in Vladivostok, Russia. /Xinhua Photo

What's next after defeating ISIL?

The theme of this year's gathering is the defeat of terrorists in Syria. Russia will share its experience in fighting ISIL – an extremist group once controlling large swaths of land in Syria and Iraq, Shoigu said at a telephone conference on Monday.

At the first MCIS after the defeat of ISIL, participants will exchange views on what happens next in the Middle East, particularly the "post-conflict reconstruction," the Russian defense minister noted.

Russia has been playing an active role in the Syrian conflict since 2015, helping the Syrian government regain much of its land taken by extremists and anti-government troops. With domestic and international powers vying for influence in post-ISIL Syria, Moscow tries to mediate by organizing and attending multilateral peace talks in Astana and Sochi – moves that Russia claims would contribute to the United Nations-brokered peace talks in Geneva.

Pro-government soldiers stand guard at the Wafideen checkpoint where Russian and Syrian presidents' portraits are displayed on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, April 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

The MCIS will also address issues such as European security, the situation in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as the use of "soft power" for military and political objectives, according to Shoigu.

It is unclear whether more details about Russia's "invincible" missiles unveiled by President Vladimir Putin will be made public during the event. In an important speech before the presidential election, Putin announced on March 1 that Russia was developing a new intercontinental ballistic missile "with a practically unlimited range" able to attack via the North and South Poles and bypass any missile shield.

(Top photo: An honor guard during a meeting of Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, Russia, April 3, 2018. /VCG Photo)

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