... importantly, leadership from the United States. Since then, it has failed to effectively deal with conflict in Libya, Ukraine, and Syria, all within or near its periphery. The situation in Syria has led to refugee and migrant crises unseen in the world or Europe ... ... governments balk at attempts to coordinate regional refugee and economic policies. In France, a rising far-right party funded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government may possibly come to control France in the coming years. Poland seems to be ...
... over Russia’s borders.
The practical application of this new approach was the Moscow engagement into the civil war in Syria. In this bloody and protracted conflict, Moscow demonstrated much more than its readiness to oppose what was perceived as ... ... Afghanistan back in 1979, the Kremlin used military force outside the boundaries of the former Soviet Union. For the first time, a Russian military aircraft was grounded by a NATO member country (Turkey). For the first time, Russia became a central player in a large-scale war right in the heart of the ...
... concerns about Russia’s military power in Europe.
“Long arms of little green men”
Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov
Yuri Barmin:
Following the Downing of its Su-24 Russia
Changes the Rules of the Game in Syria
Russia’s operation in Syria, just as the operation to reunify with Crimea, is the obvious proof of the success of the Russian army reform that was originally launched by Anatoly Serdyukov and Nikolay Makarov and continued by Sergey Shoygu and Valery Gerasimov. The reform commenced right after the peace enforcement operation in Georgia in August 2008. Back then Russia, owing to the resoluteness of its political administration ...
... Vinogradov
Yuri Barmin:
Following the Downing of its Su-24 Russia
Changes the Rules of the Game in Syria
Most Americans are never going to agree with Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine, and most Russians are never going to agree with America's actions in Syria and Ukraine. But a good first step toward peace in these and all conflicts is to refrain from fighting. Russia has refrained from fighting with Turkey and thereby saved the NATO alliance from a potentially devastating existential crisis. The United States and its allies should reciprocate by canceling their economic sanctions on Russia.
Russia and the West may never be allies or even partners, but they can and should live ...
.... The Alliance released a low-key statement following the incident, and according to some accounts there was no unity within NATO over Ankara’s response to alleged violation of its border.
Russia’s reaction to the downing of its jet was harsh diplomatically, yet very pragmatic strategically. Moscow has shifted the security balance in the region in the Syrian government’s favor as well as made sure that Turkey’s military acts with more restraint from now on. More importantly,...
... miscalculations", as well as "unforeseen incidents" if Russian and NATO military forces were to come into contact. That scenario may only deepen the ongoing crisis. And the document seems ever more significant against the backdrop of Russia’s campaign in Syria, where an international coalition with NATO participation also operates.
Of course, an incident involving Russian and NATO combat aircraft is not particularly probable, although the odds are certainly above zero. And if such a collision may cause a conflict between nuclear powers, it must ...
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One of the sad things about looking at current commentary about Russia, America, and the state of their relationship is the lack of measured and reasoned commentary. Make no mistake, though, the problems between Russia and America are serious and affect a whole host of major issues around the world from wars in Syria and Ukraine to global energy distribution, access, and prices, to space exploration and militarization, just to name a few.
Perhaps this is understandable, given the nature of the history of the most serious, dangerous rivalry the world has ever ...
1. More cohesion in NATO?
According to the balance-of-threat assumption the lack of unambiguous threat decreases cohesion of military alliances, whereas ... ... worries of Eastern Europeans.
Accordingly, the next year should provide an answer for the following question: Is fear of Russia and percieved threat in Europe sufficient for increasing defense capabilities of the European NATO members in the first ...
... Syria is not fit to resist a NATO operation, since it lacks appropriate air and other defenses. A strike could be devastating.
We have omitted considerations of international law, since such actions must be authorized by the UN Security Council. If NATO attacks Syria unsanctioned, grave consequences are to be expected for the entire system of international relations. Not just Russia but many others are sure to condemn such a step. The issue will, one assumes, be put on the Security Council agenda. It will put major cracks in the fragile rapport between various global actors.
Collage: The Voice of Russia
The defeat of Assad's ...
