Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground
This report, "Extending Russia," analyzes nonviolent ways to challenge Russia by exploiting its vulnerabilities in military, economic, and political realms. It suggests strategies where the U.S. can compete effectively, causing Russia to overextend or lose prestige.
Key takeaways:
- Maximize U.S. energy production and impose tough sanctions on Russia.
- Address regime legitimacy, stability, and influence.
You'll gain:
- A clear understanding of Russia's weaknesses.
- Insight into effective competition strategies.
- Knowledge of policy options to stress Russia economically and politically.
Core Content:
1. Economic Policies: Expanding U.S. Energy Production & Sanctions
- Focus: Stressing Russia's economy by limiting its oil export revenues.
- Suggestion:
- Expand U.S. energy production to depress global oil prices.
- Implement comprehensive, multilateral trade and financial sanctions.
- Benefit: Limits Russia's government revenue.
- Risk: Dependent on other countries' cooperation and has high costs and risks.
2. Interleaved Learning: Diversifying Europe's Gas Supply
- Focus: Reducing Europe's reliance on Russian natural gas.
- Suggestions:
- Increase Europe's import capacity from non-Russian sources.
- Diversify energy production and renewable energy.
- Benefits: Reduces Russia's economic and political leverage over Europe.
- Risk: Expensive, long-term effort.
3. Self-Testing: Targeting Skilled Labor Emigration
- Focus: Encouraging emigration of skilled labor from Russia.
- Suggestion: Provide better opportunities for skilled laborers.
- Benefits: Weakens the Russian economy and strengthens the U.S.
- Risks: Long-term effects and can be difficult to notice.
4. Economic Policies: Ideological and Informational Measures
- Focus: Undermining the Russian regime's legitimacy.
- Suggestions:
- Launch a Western information campaign to undermine the regime.
- Develop a capacity to respond in kind to Russian subversion.
- Benefits: Limited effects on Russian domestic stability and international image.
- Risk: May lead to violent crackdowns on domestic anti-regime groups and activists.
5. Adopt diversified Geopolitical Measures
- Focus: Raise foreign commitments
- Suggestions:
- Increase military equipment and advice to Ukraine
- U.S. protected zone in the east of Syria and assist the opposition.
- Benefits: Larger impact, increase Russia's direct involvement in the conflict and the price it pays for it.
- Risk: Might risk provoking Russian reaction
6. Embrace "desirable Air and Space Measures,"
- Focus: Pressure on Moscow to increase the range and capabilities of the ground and air elements of Russia’s integrated air defense systems.
- Suggestions:
- Investments in long-range cruise missiles and anti-radiation missiles.
- Periodic bomber deployments to European and Asian bases
- Benefits: Affordable for the United States
- Risk: Some of them are too expensive for the United States and Moscow can counter with modest investments in additional capabilities.
7. Pursue Land and Multidomain Measures
- Focus: Compelling increased Russian investment in countermeasures
- Suggestions:
- Target what limited maritime access Russia enjoys to the Arctic, Baltic, and Black Seas
- Incremental investments in new technologies to counter Russian air defenses and increase U.S. long-range fires
- Benefits: Increase learning effectiveness and enhance knowledge flexibility and long-term retention
- Risk: U.S. ground forces to fight without air superiority and with inferior fire support, Russia has also matched new technology to old techniques of misinformation, subversion, and destabilization.
Q&A
Q: What is the most critical vulnerability of Russia?
A: Its economy, heavily reliant on energy exports and susceptible to price fluctuations and sanctions.
Q: What is Russia's main anxiety?
A: The stability and durability of the current regime under President Putin.
Q: What is the recommended approach to compete with Russia?
A: Combine strategies that exploit economic vulnerabilities, address regime legitimacy, and undermine Russia's military advantages.
Q: What is the key objective of adopting strategies to deal with Russia?
A: To unbalance the adversary, leading Russia to compete in domains or regions where the United States has a competitive advantage.
Q: What's the main takeaway from this article?
A: To make sure to have the national policy based on defense, deterrence, and when US and Russian have the same aim, cooperation.
