Section: Institute for the Study of War (USA)
The Strategic Convergence of Russia and Iran
Key Takeaway: The U.S. cannot drive a wedge between Russia and Iran in the near term. Tehran and Moscow share regional and global interests across the Middle East, North Africa, Caucasus, and Central Asia. Their common interests and overarching objective of expelling the U.S. from the Middle East will likely bind Iran and Russia together into an...
Russian Build-Up In and Around Ukraine: August 12, 2016
Download the PDF An ongoing Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders may indicate preparations for conventional military conflict. It certainly marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that will have significant repercussions in Ukraine. Russia has deployed additional military forces and systems to Ukraine’s northern, eastern,...
Russia in Central Asia and the Caucasus
Download the PDF Key Takeaway: Russia took steps to expand and solidify its spheres of influence in Central Asia and the Caucasus to secure its dominance in the region while continuing to increase its military influence globally. Russia continues to project itself as an effective actor against terrorism in an effort to gain global legitimacy. It...
Russia and Turkey Escalate: Russia’s Threat to NATO Goes Beyond Eastern Europe
By Genevieve Casagrande, Christopher Kozak, and Franklin Holcomb with Kimberly Kagan, Nataliya Bugayova, and Jennifer Cafarella Key Takeaway: Russia is waging a multi-front campaign against Turkey in order to weaken NATO in line with its strategic objectives. The use of a high-end Soviet-era MANPADS against a Turkish helicopter in southeastern...
How Russia controls American policy
Download the PDF By Kimberly Kagan and Frederick W. Kagan We’ve seen this movie—now playing in Syria– before. The Russians have developed a way of getting the U.S. formally to permit offensive Russian military operations against American partners on the ground, all the while calling it a ceasefire. What the Russians are proposing in...
Russia Security Update: January 12-26, 2016
Download the PDF Russia continues to aggressively posture against NATO from both Ukraine and Syria while casting itself as a constructive actor in both conflicts. U.S. European Command (EUCOM) accused Russia of destabilizing Europe by violating international norms and named deterring Russian aggression as its strategic priority. Moscow announced...
Russia Security Update: November 11-18, 2015
Download the PDF Russia is attempting to align itself with France in the wake of ISIS’s terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. Russia took steps to reassert its freedom of action in Syria as France expanded its anti-ISIS air campaign in response to the Paris attacks. On November 17, Russia launched air strikes from long-range strategic...
Russo-Turkish Tensions Since the Start of the Russian Air Campaign
Russia and Turkey have long been at odds over Syria, with Moscow backing President Bashar al Assad and Ankara supporting the opposition to overthrow him. Tensions increased dramatically with the start of the Russian air campaign on September 30. The Turkish shoot-down of a Russian combat aircraft on November 24 is an escalation in this tense...
Russian Military Activity: October 21 – 27, 2015
Download the PDF Russia continued to shape conditions on the ground in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East following the air safety memorandum of understanding signed with the U.S. on October 20, 2015. Tags Ukraine Project UkrainePromote …read more Source: Institute for the Study of...
Russian Military Activity: October 14 – 21, 2015
Download the PDF Russia reached an understanding with the U.S. on air safety guidelines in Syria on October 20, but Russia’s aggressive maneuvers against U.S. aircraft and violations of Turkish airspace are likely to continue in order to keep U.S. air power in the Middle East in check. Tags Ukraine Project UkrainePromote …read more...
