March 29, 2024

Russia is an ally of, well, no one

Growing up near our nation’s capital, I didn’t see or hear much about Russian people or culture, there was only an occasional glimpse of older men being whisked from a plane marked “CCCP” at Andrews Air Force Base on their way to secretive meetings in federal buildings.

Thirty years later, if Russia is someone’s ally, it’s tough to tell. Just because the Russians don’t have the same form of government they had in 1983 doesn’t make their nation more aligned with anyone.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a number of moves that have left his nation’s “ally-ability” ambiguous at best, and it’s not even clear how intentional it is. Not only have military maneuvers in and around U.S. defense and interests left motives unclear, it’s not even clear whether there is even much Russian enthusiasm for sticking by the side of other countries.

That’s why it would be better for American farmers and potential businessmen to think of Russia as a singular potential trade partner, regardless of who seem to be the superpowers’ friends. It’s too tough to tell from military actions what Putin wants to accomplish. He sends enough unclear messages to the U.S. and other partners about what he wants to be protected and what’s precious to the Russians that there’s not a clear consensus about what is important.

Sure, there is the NATO-Russia Council and the mostly small former Soviet states and other small countries, such as Tajikistan, would be protected by Russia. It’s the eighth-largest country in the world by population, even after the dissolution of the USSR, so it’s understandable the Russians would probably defend many eastern European, Middle Eastern and Far East nations, if targeted.

However, Russia is also still the world’s largest nation in size of its land, so it’s going to have to stretch its resources toward all of its borders, therefore it’s going to need some help from someone. The recent decision to pull all troops out of Syria, and, later, to pull fighter planes out of that region left doubt about alliances there and made it unclear what military moves are next.

I have a vague recollection of Russian statesman Andrei Gromyko visiting Washington, D.C., where I was in grade school, and all the talk in the local media being about how stone-faced, unemotional and unhinting he was with both his expressions and communications. Putin lays his cards on the table a bit more but playing cards close to the vest is nothing new for the Russians.

There are a handful of Russian leadership names known to many Americans, such as Nikita Kruschev, Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Putin. However, most of them are known for their physical appearances, trips to the U.S. or one of their personal habits more than for their policies. Your guess on their next moves is as good as mine.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said recently Moscow is interested in its partners having “modern weapons and military technologies.” The rest of the world would just like to see a Russian five-year plan — and would probably settle for a one-year plan.

Sting often gets a little too political in his music, but his extensive travels and courage excuse him from producing an endless steam of typical aging-rocker love songs. “Russians” outlines the same skepticism of leaders that lives on today: “Mr. Reagan says, ‘We will protect you.’ I don’t subscribe to this point of view. Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks

at jbrooks@newtondailynews.com