Rise In Russian Military Power Politics Essay

Rise In Russian Military world-beater Politics Essay Military magnate was central to the USSRs position as orbiculate index. The Soviet Unions legions strength was its prime achievement and it had well-read that arm services power generates inter field respect and deference.The Soviet Union was a superpower largely beca design of its cleverness to generate enormous legions power Russias power is no longer the centre of international concerns, the threat of its armed services might no longer grips us obsessively, and the global order is no longer defined by alignment with or against Moscow.22. Nevertheless, Russias armament policy and power rebriny a major consideration in Eurasia and its thermonu trenchant component retains global signifi quarterce. The disintegration of USSR in 1991, alike led to decline of Russias armed lunges power along with a crippled economy and policy-making leadership. The successive g everywherenments were more concerned in resolving Russ ias domestic problems sort of than on retaining a global position. Thus over a design of time major down fall was seen in boilers suit forces capability of Russia. It was in 2000 when Vladimir Putin became president a fundamental shift was seen in Russian politics, economy and in its array capability. Putin always regarded the collapse of the Soviet Union as the outstandingest geopolitical disaster in twenty-first degree centigrade. Once he came to power, he was able to inject a impudently belief that it was Russias right to be a neat power and the military power being the ultimate symbol of that status.3. Over a issue of time, Russia has changed its military doctrines, policies and too downsized its military forces. The military power was used efficaciously to handle the gallium conflict in 2008. After this fight, Russia made major plans to renew and modernize its armed forces by 2020. In April 2009, U.S. Director of guinea pig Intelligence Denis Bl oxygenate said i n unclassified written answers to the Senate Intelligence perpetration that the ongoing reshaping of Russias ground forces result enable it to militarily dominate most(prenominal) of its neighbours.RUSSIAN DEFENCE POLICYStructure of Decision Making4. prexy of the Russian Federation is Supreme Commander in Chief (CIC) of the Russian gird Forces. He is the executive authority for the formulation of defence policies and military doctrine. Minister of refutal comes next in hierarchy and is appointed straight by the President. Minister is responsible for readiness, overall deployment of the military and also the formalisation of the State Armament Plan. For the first time in recent Russian history In March 2001 then President Putin appointed a civilian defence minister with a mind set that that military reform can all be achieved with civilian oversight. Subsequently Putin also introduced a new State Law on Defence with an bring forth to give more powers to Ministry of Defence.3 5. In 2000, under National Security and opposed Policy Concept the threat assessment for Russia in the 21 century was carried out and based on this, Military Doctrine was formulated. The main threats to Russias national interests were identified as stinting disintegration of Russia, ethnic separatism, increase in crime rate, reduction in powers of OSCE and the UN, weakening of Russias influence in political, economic and military matters, the rise of various military-political blocs and unions, eastward enlargement of NATO and militarisation of areas in close vicinity of Russias borders.6. Based upon these threat assessments, the foreign policy priorities of Russia were to confirm Russias sovereignty and territorial integrity to regain its lost status of great power ensure kingdomal stability in adjacent areas and to re product the perceived dominance of the United States. As per military policy the main aim was as the deterrence of aggression of any scale against it Russia and its consort, including with the use of nuclear weapons.A RE-ASSERTIVE RUSSIA7. Over a period of time Russia has perform more confident and forceful in its foreign and military policies. This could be observed during Russian military repartee to Georgian conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008 Russias stand over NATO amplification and US projectile defence proposals in eastern europium. Thus Russia has been using military as a diplomatic tool in the war of delivery between east and west. Russia is aware that their opinions stimulate been ignored over Iraq, Iran, Kosovo and NATO expansion at the world wooden leg. But in spite of these, at trusted aspects Russia has shown its firmness and has stool tall even to take mighty US head on. Some of these aspects exact been covered in the following paragraphs.8. missile Defence. When US came up with the plan of deploying its ballistic missile defence in Poland and the Czech Republic, it was vehemently opposed by Russia. The Russ ian government move to believe BMD plans as a threat to national security. The radars station in the Czech Republic would have seen practically entire western prior of Russia. Russian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff, General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, even suggested that this missile agreement could force Russia to carry out nuclear strike against Poland if requisite arise.4Even President Medvedev in his address to nation on 5 November 2008 announced that the Russia might go ahead with the deployment of the Iskander short-range surface-to-surface missile formation in Kaliningrad to neutralise the BMD strategy and would also electronically jam the components of US BMD. The deployment of Russian ocean assets in the Baltic Sea was also considered for the resembling mathematical function. However US have been confirming that these missiles have limited capabilities and would have no impact on the Russian strategic offensive forces.9. The assertive stance of Russia has forced USA adm inistration to reviewing its missile defence plan, and so Russian Government has also suspended the deployment plans of its Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad. This move of Russia and response from US highlights that the fact that Russias powers are on rise and it can soothe avert the US decision when its own integrity or safety device is concerned.10. Strategic Bomber Patrols. The rise of Russian armed forces was most symbolically demonstrated when military forces paraded in Moscows Red Square. In the summer of 2007, strategic bombers of Russia carried out patrols in international agate linespace over Atlantic, Pacific and safe Oceans for the first time, since the end of the ice-cold War. In March 2009 Russian military aircraft reportedly did fly past just 500 feet over dickens US navy warships while these were participating in a crossroads military exercise with South Korea in international waters in the Sea of Japan.5This used to be a common occurrence during the cool War era. These bomber patrols were conducted to demonstrate military might and also to leaven the air defence reaction times of NATO countries periodically. Such patrols were stopped in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Similar incidents were also observed over UK and Norwegian air spaces in 2007 and 2008. Russian government officially hold in August 2007 that these missions were intended for pilot training, in particular air-to-air refueling. Japan has also reported an increase in the number of exercises and patrols by warships of the Russian Fleet, along with strategic bomber patrols. The timing of these incidents has been regarded as a sign of renewed Russian confidence on the international stage.11. The Arctic. Russia has also increased its military activity in the Arctic region in the same period and this has been linked to Russias increasingly vocal claims to large land in the region and also to vast areas of untapped natural resources. In 2004 Russia announced the c reation of a new Arctic Directorate for this region and in aug 2007, about 20 Russian strategic bombers carried out pentad days of exercises over the North Pole.6Time and again these facts have been hold by the Russian Defence Ministry. In September 2008 President Medvedev Janes Defence WeeklyA greater stake in the Arctic is well-nigh related to Russias increasingly assertive regional behaviour. Moscows recent incursion into Georgia was a bellwether of sorts for the concept of a Greater Russia and the outward expansion of the countrys territorial borders 7Expanding Russias Military Footprint12. Russia has expanded its military co-operation with Latin and South American countries, in particular Venezuela. Since 2003 Russia has reportedly supplied $4-5bn worth of arms including fleck helicopters, Su-30 electric ray aircraft and the Tor-M1 air defence missile system to the Venezuelan government. In 2008 Russia had temporarily deployed two TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers in Ven ezuela.13. In December 2008 Russian naval flagship, the missile cruiser Peter the Great and the anti-submarine destroyer full admiral Chabanenk, visited Cuba and then Venezuela to take part in a joint naval exercise in the Caribbean Sea. This was the first deployment conducted in the region by the Russian navy since the break up of the Soviet Union and was seen as the uphill trend in the increased activity by the Russians. In July 2008 Russia also hinted that if US plan to station its BMD systems in Eastern Europe, than Russian aircraft and submarine fleet may also once again be stationed in Cuba. An article in Janes Intelligence Review commented that the Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises served as a neat counterpoint to Washingtons decision to base its missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic, in Russias near abroad.8Russias Military Capabilities14. Russian military is currently the fifth largest in the world considering total active personnel, exceeded only by Chi na (2.18m), the United States (1.54m), India (1.28m), and North Korea (1.1m). However, if Russias reserve contingent (approximately 20 million Personnel) is taken into account, Russias military becomes the largest. Over all Russias military power is third behind US and china.9In spite of such a large military which is being able to address all voltage threats across the combat spectrum, the Russian Military Doctrine still have reliance on nuclear weapons. Some experts believe that Russian nuclear capability is one which makes Russia as a military superpower. The military capabilities of Russia can be seen as follows.(a) Conventional Capabilities. As per the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, there are limits on the numbers of combat aircraft, tanks, attack helicopters, combat vehicles and artillery pieces that one country could held within Europe by NATO and the states of the agent Warsaw Treaty Organisation (Warsaw Pact). However these limitations apply to Russian military equ ipments which are deployed to the West of the Ural Mountains. The treaty did not impose limitations on the overall conventional capabilities of any nation. The Russian military strength as on 2008 is as indicated.10PERSONNEL conglomeration Population140,702,0962008Population Available73,239,7612008 fail for Military Service50,249,8542008Reaching Military Age Annually1,602,673 brisk Military Personnel1,245,0002008Active Military Reserve2,400,0002008Active paramilitary unit Units359,1002008ARMYTotal Land-Based Weapons79,985Tanks22,8002005Armored Personnel Carriers9,900Towed Artillery13,5852005Self-Propelled Guns6,0102005 twofold Rocket Launch Systems4,350Mortars6,1002005NAVYTotal Navy Ships526Merchant maritime Strength1,0742008Major Ports and Harbors8 fashioncraft Carriers12005Destroyers152005Submarines612005Faes192005Patrol Coastal invention722005Mine War utmoste Craft412005Amphibious Craft222005AIR FORCETotal Aircraft3,8882005Helicopters2,6252003Serviceable Airports1,2602007(b) N uclear Capabilities. Since 1949, when Soviet Union tested its first nuclear weapon it is recognised as a nuclear state. USA and USSR (Russia) went finished number of treaties such as INF treaty (Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces), conk (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) and SORT (Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty) so as to reduce nuclear weapons of both the countries. Still Russia is estimated to have an active 5,200 practicable warheads and approximately 8,800 intact warheads awaiting dismantlement thus a total of 14000 warheads(highest in the world).11Assessment of Current Military Capability15. The actual assessment of Russian military capability is very difficult since these have not been deployed in conflict beyond their borders. Therefore the assessment of the ability of the military has been divinatory and based on various assumptions. There have been doubts about ability of the Soviet-era military-industrial complex to keep technological pace with its military peers, p articularly the production of sophisticated weaponry.16. Many analysts believe that the majority of Russian equipments are ageing, as due to financial crisis after cold war Russia had stopped purchase new military equipments. In March 2009 the Russian Defence Minister, hold that most of Russias weaponry was obsolete and old and modern equipment were just 10% of the armys existing capabilities. While US and other western countries have learnt during Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan war over the last decade, the Russians have had no such experience.17. However, it is also acknowledge that Russian military does possess small amounts of state-of-the-art advanced weaponry. Air force has bought Su-34 combat aircraft, the Iskander theatre ballistic missile system and the S-400 air defence system. The SU-35 aircraft is also expected to be inducted in 2010-2011. Although western media claims otherwise, Russias armed forces still remain the most powerful and effective land force across Eurasia . They still possess state-of-the-art main battle tanks, multiple-launch go up mortar system, heavy artillery and close ground tactical air support.Prospects18. The increased military power, overt posturing on the international stage in recent years along with massive structural reform are the signs of the Russian resurgence. What has to be seen is that does it have longevity and what will be its implications? Russia in it self is having a strong sense of national congratulate and full belief that it can get back to its lost great power status. But to achieve this other than military power it inescapably political and economic stability.19. In its present state the Russian Armed Forces would be able to defend its territories and national interest as in Georgia but at global level authoritatively they will not be able to formulate a power extrusion like United States. The prospects of the Russian military therefore lie in the first place in the success of its modernisation plan and structural reforms. These can be achieved by strong economy but that is affected by ups and downs of global energy prices.20. On the other hand Russias military-industrial complex has also not been able to revive completely, to cope with the technological demands of the modernisation programme. As per the reports a $50m contract has been done with Israel for UAV. Along with this there is need to upgrade their no-count water navy fleet with aircraft carrier as well. However it is certain that the modernisation of Russias conventional armed forces will not come at the expense of its nuclear capabilities. Certainly Nuclear weapons will be given over the priority over conventional weapons as former gives them a clear cut edge over other nations. As Jonathan Eyal succinctly observe in his October 2008 piece on Europe and Russia A Return to the awayThe Russian military can cause difficulties. Many of Russias neighbours are far poorer and weaker, so the Russian armed forces are st ill a hefty threat to them, as the example of Georgia showed 21. However, the reality still is that Russias contend to the US is hardly military. The Russians have no chance of emulating the Soviet Union, which essay to match Western technology weapon-for-weapon. Nor is there any ideological mucilage to underpin such a confrontation most of Russias current allies are fair weather friends. it cannot divert the huge resources required to cook a modern military away from civilian consumption. So, the main purpose behind Russias military muscle-flexing remains political and no new Cold War is in the offing.12