5 ms·

>I'd speculate the whole action is to force the West to a new deal with Russia, so they can balance China. If they are serious about partnering with the west,

>I'd speculate the whole action is to force the West to a new deal with Russia, so they can balance China. If they are serious about partnering with the west, they should have embraced reforms and become a member of NATO. The fact that they haven't is indicative of Putin's plan to counter the west. It's more likely they will partner with China just because Putin isn't thinking beyond that. He's 70 after all and they have no effective playbook against China (ala Foundation of Geopolitics against the west).

ed_balls 5y ago
> they should have embraced reforms They tried that in the 90s. There are two problems. They don't want to be a colony for Western powers. Russia is a collection of a few different nations. You have to hold it by a strong hand, otherwise you have a civil war e.g. Chechnya. So they want to do it now on partner relations with Europe. Russia will provide, natural resources, transportation link to Asia, you can relocate polluting factories to Siberia, you get access to our market and labor. Also, you we will provide security and balance China. You don't need those pesky Americans. In return Russia wants, capital, tech and modernisation of the country. So Europeans, do you want EU from Lisbon to Vladivostok or war? trains and artic route.
- starfallg 5y ago
  You don't partner with nations by forcing them into a corner. That's not partnership, that's conquest. The USSR lost the cold war. The fact that they want to have their cake and eat it too is the root of the issue. The compromise to be admitted into the western system is actually pretty mild, and there are many strong nations within the western framework. Russia would have no problems operating on a similar level as Japan or France if they gave up their desire for geopolitical hegemony.

5 ms·

>I'd speculate the whole action is to force the West to a new deal with Russia, so they can balance China. If they are serious about partnering with the west,

by starfallg 5y ago

ed_balls 5y ago
> they should have embraced reforms They tried that in the 90s. There are two problems. They don't want to be a colony for Western powers. Russia is a collection of a few different nations. You have to hold it by a strong hand, otherwise you have a civil war e.g. Chechnya. So they want to do it now on partner relations with Europe. Russia will provide, natural resources, transportation link to Asia, you can relocate polluting factories to Siberia, you get access to our market and labor. Also, you we will provide security and balance China. You don't need those pesky Americans. In return Russia wants, capital, tech and modernisation of the country. So Europeans, do you want EU from Lisbon to Vladivostok or war? trains and artic route.
- starfallg 5y ago
  You don't partner with nations by forcing them into a corner. That's not partnership, that's conquest. The USSR lost the cold war. The fact that they want to have their cake and eat it too is the root of the issue. The compromise to be admitted into the western system is actually pretty mild, and there are many strong nations within the western framework. Russia would have no problems operating on a similar level as Japan or France if they gave up their desire for geopolitical hegemony.