Now that the Putin backed United Russia party secured a clear majority in the Russian Duma, Putin can begin to tackle the challenges growing on Russia’s western front mainly the Ukraine. The EU backed government in Kiev has been in an on and off war between the break away pro-Russian regions of the Donbass. Russia sees these regions as a natural part of its territory.
With the EU move towards a united EU army to offset the crumbling NATO alliance, Putin views the EU as a direct threat to his territorial ambitions. This is essentially why Putin has been on the move both westward and in the Middle East. The Russians, like other former empires view their territorial reach in the past as a goal to get to in the future. For Russia that is all the way to Germany as well as rehabilitation of direct influence in the Middle East.
Eurasian Union as a threat to the Neo Conservative Agenda
Russia’s goal of uniting formerly Soviet states under the rubric of Russian controlled economic sphere has already rattled the nerves of Western leaders. However, Russia’s growing cooperation with China puts both NATO and other Western powers on the defensive. This is essentially what NATO is doing by deploying troops and fomenting regime change in the Ukraine and Syria.
With the two developing powers of Russia and China essentially agreeing to work together to roll back the post Cold-War world order, the leadership in America, Britain, and Brussels are throwing down the gauntlet in Ukraine. This is where things will get dicey.
Trump a Game Changer
Up until now both Western leaders and their Russian and Chinese counterparts were willing to play along with the 21st century Big Game, but the impending Trump victory due to Clinton’s collapse (both figuratively and literally) changes the calculus of Western leaders. Trump has made his admiration and willingness to work with Putin public. If the Donald wins, world politics as we know it bound to change and this is what makes the Neo-Conservative agenda drivers nervous.
In the coming weeks look for a October surprise in Eastern Ukraine as Washington and the EU interject themselves into the conflict in order to head off any rapprochement with Russia. These sorts of actions replayed not only in Eastern Europe but in the South China Sea as well, will directly affect the pace and thrust of war between NATO, Russia, and China.
The world is about to be set ablaze by a crumbling order that made its money off the outcome of World War 2 and the Cold War. Putin understands the West is frantic and yet this chaos that is swirling provides him with little maneuvering room going forward. From here on out until inauguration day, expect increased volatility as WW3 closes in.