Quote:
Originally Posted by Jgood
What would you consider the move then? Putin even mentioning a deal serves as a warning not only to the UK but the United States. He is expanding his military reach and flexing muscle. Do you think those 12 planes come by themselves? No, they come with advisors and support that will allow joint exchanges and development of the AO. Which happens to be very close to other South American countries who are pretty unstable. Nothing Russia does right now is done without thinking about how to benefit from the 2nd and 3rd order of effects. And if you don't think so, I would check under your bed.
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Yes you are right. There is not a country in existence with any sort of capability that is not jostling for a position on the world stage. Clearly Russia wants to re-establish themselves as a world power and counter the influence and encroachment of NATO in their own back yard. They see a policy of Russian containment conducted by the US. Of course they will be establishing military and economic ties as much as they can, with whoever they can. Do they have a right to do so? I suppose as much as anyone else. They made a huge mistake by relying almost totally on oil and gas exports and realise that they need to diversify in an environment which they have found increasingly hostile.
A lot has unfolded on the world stage since the fall of the USSR to cause people not to think that domination by any one power is desirable. Neither a world controlled by an oligarchy of Russians nor Americans. I also wouldn't expect to see the rise of a new Soviet Empire. Sorry I just don't see that. There are others that are far more expansive and invasive than the Russians but then I guess their designs are purely altruistic.
It simply appears that there are a lot of fights being picked but very little follow through and a lot of untidy loose ends. Over the last 15 years the world definitely hasn't become a better place because of it.
As an aside thought: We in the west consider ourselves the winners of the cold war. The Soviets would have been aware that economic political and social isolation was not sustainable. What happened in western universities during the cold war, what positions do those graduates hold today and how has society changed in the west as a result? How would that benefit a resurgent Russia wanting to re-establish itself on the world stage.