Editor's note: Shadowy mercenaries offer Moscow deniability on the battlefield and a cheap way to build influence across the globe, reveals in this Q & A by Nathaniel Reynolds. WHAT IS RUSSIA’S WAGNER GROUP? The Wagner Group emerged from the Kremlin’s need for off-the-books fighters in its wars in Ukraine and Syria. In both
Russia and Euroasia
Turkey takes delivery of Russian S-400 missile system, despite risk of US sanctions
David Reid KEY POINTS Turkey says it has taken the first delivery of Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system.The United States says Turkey is risking the security of the NATO alliance and the F-35 fighter jet program.One analyst sees the purchase as potentially destructive to U.S. defense hegemony. A Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system.Sergei
Xi Jinping in Russia for talks with Putin with cooperation against US expected
Is Russia preparing a gas nuclear option?
Paul Gregory Vladimir Putin is noted for taking surprise action, which confronts his victims with a fait accompli. They must then either accept the new unfavorable status quo or react in a way that they would consider too risky. Putin has employed this playbook in Georgia, Crimea, East Ukraine, Syria, on Ukrainian
US could push Russia into tit-for-tat military spending that could push them to the brink of bankruptcy
No Thanks: China dismisses notion it will join Russia, US in nuclear talks
•A top Chinese official this week rejected the suggestion that China would be participating in discussions with Russia and the US on limiting nuclear arms, saying that it has no intention to "take part in any trilateral negotiations." Geng Shuang, a Chinese Foreign Ministryspokesperson, said at a daily briefing that potential negotiations
Senkaku Paradox: Preparing for conflict with the great powers
Editor's Note: Contemplating a scenario where China and Russia seize territory of marginal importance triggering applicable defense treaties, Washington needs better, less escalatory, and, thus, more credible options, writes Michael O'Hanlon. This piece was originally published by The Hill. Since roughly 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and China solidified its
Pacific: To counter US dominance, China and Russia holds joint naval drills
China said Thursday that it will hold joint naval drills with Russia next week, in another sign that the countries' militaries are growing closer in the face of shared opposition to U.S. military dominance. The "Joint Sea 2019" drills will be held off the northern port city of Qingdao, Defense Ministry
With US-Russian arms control treaties on shaky ground, the future is worrying
Steven Pifer Editor's Note: On its current path, the U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control regime likely will come to an end in 2021. That will make for a strategic relationship that is less stable, less secure and less predictable and will further complicate an already troubled bilateral relationship, argues Steven Pifer. This
Boko Haram: Nigeria seeks Russia’s assistance in military technology, counter-terrorism
Jude Johnson The Federal Government has solicited the cooperation of Russia to enhance its military Industrial Complex and technology as well as eliminate the Boko Haram insurgents from Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin countries. The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali made the appeal on Wednesday at the 8th Moscow “Conference on