Posted on 12/31/2017 5:49:31 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose
In 2005...Putin famously remarked that the collapse of the Soviet Union marked the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century.” The years since have seen Putin pursue a foreign policy centered in large part on recreating a modified version of the old Soviet sphere of influence.
In military terms, this has meant creating or supporting security blocs, such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, that are tethered to the Kremlin and are designed to further Russian strategic priorities in the Eurasian theater. On the economic front, Putin has put forth an alternative to the EU, known broadly as the Eurasian Economic Union.
Politically, meanwhile, Moscow has invested enormous capital in building closer ties with countries such as Belarus, and to assorted Central Asian regimes and eastern European governments, in an effort to increase its political freedom of action along its periphery. The result is what can best be described as a postmodern Russian empire—one not of actual military control but of political and economic dependency.
Iran plays a large part in these plans.
- Iran is increasingly vital to Russia’s economy. Over the past few years, Russian fiscal health has been ravaged by low world oil prices and successive rounds of Western sanctions aimed at penalizing it for its aggressive policy toward Ukraine.
For its part, over the past several months, the Kremlin has concluded at least $10 billion in new arms deals with the Iranian regime. Nuclear commerce between the two countries has seen a similar surge.
- Russia likewise needs Iran to preserve its presence in the Middle East. Like the Islamic Republic, Russia has become a crucial player in the ongoing Syrian civil war.
(Excerpt) Read more at foreignaffairs.com ...
They’re not helping on North Korea as of now either, but for different reasons.
They have no way to help with North Korea, like they do with Iran. North Korea is a client state of China, and only China has a say in what they do.
It‘s funny.
Even EU, Turkey (America’s ally in the NATO), won’t help Trump on Iran.
First of all, it’s in Russia’s interest to keep them against us. Second, Russia is to Iran what Turkey is to the U.S. Both Turkey and Iran get to tell the bigger country what to do, because they are needed.
Not true - according to Trump himself.
President says ‘Russia is not helping’ U.S. deal with Kim Jong Un.
North Korean state was created in Soviet times with Stalin himself installing Kim Il Sung back in the 1940s. So it is technically part of the Soviet sphere of influence, which Putin is hoping to maintain for Russia in this new century.
If Putin is overthrown or peacefully defeated in elections Trump will say he got what he deserved. Karma’s a bitch.
That was a long time ago before Russia and China split. North Korea is in beijing’s backyard and they control North Korea. Yes, Putin would like to return Russia to its former glory but there are a lot of obstacles to that. There’s a lot of former Soviet republics they can latch onto now, but right now China is too powerful then for them to do anything with. They are going to have their hands full trying to prevent China from taking territory in their East. They have no way to stop it right
Bingo and even if he survives the March 2018 Russian “elections” (if you can call them that, they’re so staged) , things are not looking good for Putin and his oligarchs beyond that.
The question is will Russia interfere with a revolution?
True that. Only Israel now I guess...
I was on a few Russian news websites today reading the comments about the news coming out of Iran.
Russian people are watching closely because while not to the extent of Iranian oppression, there is a growing discontent with the Putin regime...However there is an even greater aversion to all things “revolution” related. Nobody wants that.
One Russian commentator noted that the Iranian situation is a reminder of how a revolution is pointless when it generates chaos, is without a unified platform, or a visible leader to rally around, etc...
also a revolution is pointless with no plausible plan for transitioning the government itself.
Reminds me of the attempted coup by part of Turkey’s military against Erdogan which was squelched by Erdogan’s coup back in the Summer of 2016.
What is going on in Iran seems far more widespread and massive.
Well...as of last week,
“Russia offers to mediate between US and North Korea”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/north-korea-crisis-russia-mediation-united-states-un-conflict-a8129356.html
“The US State Department and White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Moscow’s offer.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who made a similar offer on Monday, told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Tuesday that “Washington’s aggressive rhetoric” and beefing up of its military presence in the region had heightened tensions and was unacceptable, Russia’s foreign ministry said.
It said Lavrov underscored the need for “the fastest move to the negotiating process from the language of sanctions.”
The US found out that if you are going to support or cause a regime change, you have to have a viable plan to replace the government immediately.
I hope and pray that the Iranian people will be successful in liberating themselves from their tyrannical nightmare.
Iran has been the number state sponsor of terrorism and needs to be revolutionized for any hope of real change in the Middle East. They continually swear death to America and Israel and new leadership is imperative.
Praying that President Trump soon rips up that insane Nuclear Weapons Agreement, the next time it comes due for re-certification.
Again, may God be with the brave citizens of Iran during this perilous struggle. It is also inspiring to witness Iranian women fighting for their lives.
BTW, I remember the 444 day hostage crisis, which occurred shortly after I graduated high school—and how they were freed as President Reagan took office.
Perhaps, now, President Trump will make history anew in helping to resolve or advance genuine transformation in Iran in 2018. I heard somebody on Fox today admit that he has already done more to promote the Iranians’ cause with his tweets than Obummer ever did several years ago.
YES so true...and also edie, I fully expect this sort of thing to happen in other countries including less obvious places within Trump’s term...Hopefully not violent though.
China’s coming revolution:
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3618268/posts
Israel
and
America’s good old friend, Saudi Arabia.
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