Intro to Modern Russia

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation has continued to be a political, economic, and military power in the international community. Russia has one of the most abundant mineral and energy reserves, is a recognized nuclear weapons state, and has the world’s largest stockpile of WMDs. Russia continues to be a threat to Western interests, and will likely be a threat for the foreseeable future.

Russia currently is involved in conflicts around the world, whether directly or indirectly. Russia has attempted the manipulation of U.S. elections, supported the Assad regime throughout the Syrian Civil war, and expanded its influence into the Arctic. Russia has also been involved with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with its 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Russia has progressively built up its military and expanded its influence into vital regions of the world.

Russia continues to be an adversarial power to the United States, and to the interests of the West as a whole. Therefore, the Russian Federation’s actions both domestically and around the world necessitate in-depth analysis.