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Afghanistan remains a festering sore. Putin and Hu worry about Washington's permanent presence. Remaining threatens both countries. Hu told People's Daily:
"We will continue to follow the concept that regional affairs should be managed by countries in the region, that we should guard against shocks from turbulence outside the region, and that (SCO members) should play a bigger role in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction."
While Putin met Hu and other SCO leaders in Beijing, Hillary Clinton visited Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili. In August 2008, Washington used him against Russia.
South Ossetian aggression forced Moscow's hand. Protecting its citizens was important. Other issues emboldened both sides. Kremlin officials loath Saakashvili. Allying with Washington against their interests stokes tensions.
Clinton announced new military aid. She denounced "Russia's occupation and militarization of Georgia's territory." She referred to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Both provinces broke away from Georgia.
Putin raised concerns about Washington's Asian military buildup. He's also apprehensive about undermining Sino-Russian regional influence. He has just cause. By 2020, America will deploy 60% of its naval forces in East Asia. As they increase, so will tensions.
A Final Comment
On June 18 and 19, Moscow hosted P5+1 country nuclear talks on Iran. Participating nations include the five permanent Security Council members - America, Russia, China, Britain, and France - plus Germany.
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