Medvedev’s Military Machinations
Synopsis:
Russia has been working hard for the last couple of months to flex its muscles in an effort to gain the maximum amount of leverage prior to the first meeting between Russian President Medvedev and US President Obama. Some of Russia's moves are obviously propaganda pieces, but many more realistic Ruskie ruses are establishing the tremendous advantage they posses in getting what the want from the US. The START treaty, revamping their military, reasserting themselves in central Asia and Georgia, and even sweetening ties with Iran are all Russian cards that they will play in order to curb the growth of NATO and the US missile defense shield, as well as pushing all foreign influence out of their historic periphery.
Keywords: Russia, USA, Medvedev, Obama, military, START, NATO, missile defense shield, Central Asia, Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan
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