Russian Brinksmanship: Don’t Confuse Unpredictability with Strength

When Russia intervenes, according to analyst Olga Oliker, the result is not the respect that Moscow seeks but a reputation for unpredictability. A policy of anti-American opportunism renders many of the Kremlin's relationships transactional and fleeting. Oliker argues that until Russia develops a more intentional foreign policy, the country's influence won't extend beyond its neighborhood.