IDEA - Russia Sends Long Bombers Back on Patrol
Associated Press reported that Russia Sends Long Bombers Back on Patrol (link).
Two important statements
Russia and China executed war games on Russia’s soil near the Urals Mountain city of Chelyabinsk.
The war games involved some 6,000 troops from both countries, along with soldiers from four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations that are part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin placed strategic bombers back on long-range patrol.
This is for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Both statements signal a growing tension between the united States and Russia, especially regarding Central Asia.
IDEA of this story resulted in the following Open-Ended Issues,
- Central Asia contains vast hydrocarbon resources, with indicators: yellow, almost certainly
- China’s influence in Central Asia grows, with indicators: orange, even chance
- Russia’s influence in Central Asia grows, with indicators: orange, even chance
- Russia increases its military spending, with indicators: orange, almost certainly
- United States‘ influence in Central Asia grows, with indicators: orange, even chance
This gives the following Key Global Issues Monitor.