Geopolitics 101—Don’t re-invent the Russian bear and Chinese dragon
Last week’s geopolitical guidance to politicians was don’t lose wars. This week’s advice is don’t re-invent Russian bears and Chinese dragons. Portraying Russia and China as potential or peer adversaries and threats goes back to the Soviet Union’s last leader Mikhail Gorbachev. “What are you going to do now that you no longer have an enemy?” he asked. In addition to hosting the most expensive Olympic Games in history, Vladimir Putin’s autocratic Russia has announced major increases in defense spending. The Old Soviet Fifth Eskadra that deployed to the Mediterranean during the Cold War was replaced with a new Russian Mediterranean force based in Tartus, Syria. Half a dozen or [...]
