Posted on Jul 10, 2015
How would you characterize the relationship between Russia and the Western Nations? How should the US respond?
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Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and breakup of the Soviet Union, most of our military engagements have been around the Mediterranean Sea, East Africa, or Southwest Asia. We have drawn down our forces and reduced our nuclear response capability as we have tried to use diplomacy to address world problems.
The US and many "western" nations have reduced defense spending relative to GDP while Russia has increased their spending made possible by economic growth. The past few years have shown us working with Russia at the UN on rare occasions and being on opposing sides in Syria, Iran, Yemen, Ukraine, the Baltic States, etc.
The US and many "western" nations have reduced defense spending relative to GDP while Russia has increased their spending made possible by economic growth. The past few years have shown us working with Russia at the UN on rare occasions and being on opposing sides in Syria, Iran, Yemen, Ukraine, the Baltic States, etc.
Military History
Cold War
International Affairs
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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I think Russia as a nation is feeling vulnerable and left out. That's given Putin the window he needs to appeal to former glory and reignite anti-Western sentiment. I don't blame them really. The shift to capitalism wasn't exactly beneficial to your average Russian and created a ruling criminal class. Couple that with the West continuously "encroaching" into areas that used to be under the sway of the Soviet Union and resentment makes sense.
The fact that we rolled over for Russia without a reaction with the South Ossetia invasion and then carried on with the 2005 BRAC plan hasn't helped.
Also, Putin is nuts.
The fact that we rolled over for Russia without a reaction with the South Ossetia invasion and then carried on with the 2005 BRAC plan hasn't helped.
Also, Putin is nuts.
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I think we are once again in a Cold War with a re-surging Russia who has lost the its firm relationship with the eastern European nations as a bulwark against the West and is still fighting Muslim terrorists in southern Russia and dealing with former soviet republics that are "feeling their oats so to speak." On the other hand the Russians are using both threats and diplomacy to drive wedges between western nations to their advantage.
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Russia has become a kleptocracy under Putin, where a clique of Putin's cronies have divided and looted the economy. Putin, the KGB operative took the loss of the Cold War personally and hard. The loss of the CW has conditioned Putin's outlook and indeed the Russsian peoples.
Russia has reserved the right of first use of nukes even in tactical situation s. A Russian scientist has even advocated nuking Yellowstone to get the super volcano to blow. Russia knows that it's conventional forces are wanting, so it engaged in hybrid warfare in the Ukraine.
I would characterize the relationship was near toxic and I would continue to insure readiness even though our troop numbers are lowered. We are . In the beginnings of a new CW4.
Russia has reserved the right of first use of nukes even in tactical situation s. A Russian scientist has even advocated nuking Yellowstone to get the super volcano to blow. Russia knows that it's conventional forces are wanting, so it engaged in hybrid warfare in the Ukraine.
I would characterize the relationship was near toxic and I would continue to insure readiness even though our troop numbers are lowered. We are . In the beginnings of a new CW4.
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