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On one hand, Russia may soon finally have year-round maritime access that can't easily be blocked by other powers. On the other hand, will it still be able to c

On one hand, Russia may soon finally have year-round maritime access that can't easily be blocked by other powers. On the other hand, will it still be able to count on its winters to shut out invaders? I wonder what all of this will portend.

mrfusion 10y ago
They do have 1000s of miles of pacific coastline. I wonder why they don't develop that more militarily? Everyone seems to ignore it.
- jnicholasp 10y ago
  Because the Pacific coast of Russia is thousands of land miles, and even more thousands of sea miles, from the places Russia wants to be able to influence. Having naval bases there doesn't really help them project naval force in Europe and the Middle East.
- jcranmer 10y ago
  Russia's Far East is basically colonies that never decolonized. Most of Russia is situated in its Europe, and its hinterlands have notable density only along roughly the region of the Trans-Siberian Railroad once you get past around the Irtysh River (western tributary of the Ob). Even past Lake Baikal, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Yakutsk are virtually the only cities. Vladivostok was developed heavily, as Russia's only ice-free ocean port, but most of the rest of that region is far too sparsely populated. It's telling that, in modern times, Russia is quite paranoid that China is planning an invasion and takeover of that area.
easilyBored 10y ago
Russia is good at causing problems, because they cost relatively little. Russia has no military to fight a protracted war against a "real" country, and definitely they cannot project power thousands of miles away. Now if they get invaded that's a different story, but other than China I don't see anyone else invading them. If China retakes Siberia, then get ready for nuclear winters. As Napoleon said the army marches in its stomach, and Russia has a limited amount of money. Russia is behind Canada when it comes to GDP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomi... Granted they have a history of weapon production and can squeeze more out of a dollar, but if it looks like war is coming, you'll see everyone spending and catching up.

mrfusion 10y ago

They do have 1000s of miles of pacific coastline. I wonder why they don't develop that more militarily? Everyone seems to ignore it.

jnicholasp 10y ago
Because the Pacific coast of Russia is thousands of land miles, and even more thousands of sea miles, from the places Russia wants to be able to influence. Having naval bases there doesn't really help them project naval force in Europe and the Middle East.
jcranmer 10y ago
Russia's Far East is basically colonies that never decolonized. Most of Russia is situated in its Europe, and its hinterlands have notable density only along roughly the region of the Trans-Siberian Railroad once you get past around the Irtysh River (western tributary of the Ob). Even past Lake Baikal, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Yakutsk are virtually the only cities. Vladivostok was developed heavily, as Russia's only ice-free ocean port, but most of the rest of that region is far too sparsely populated. It's telling that, in modern times, Russia is quite paranoid that China is planning an invasion and takeover of that area.

easilyBored 10y ago

Russia is good at causing problems, because they cost relatively little. Russia has no military to fight a protracted war against a "real" country, and definitely they cannot project power thousands of miles away. Now if they get invaded that's a different story, but other than China I don't see anyone else invading them. If China retakes Siberia, then get ready for nuclear winters. As Napoleon said the army marches in its stomach, and Russia has a limited amount of money. Russia is behind Canada when it comes to GDP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomi... Granted they have a history of weapon production and can squeeze more out of a dollar, but if it looks like war is coming, you'll see everyone spending and catching up.