Ever since the walls came tumbling down, we've regarded it down and out for the count. But the largest country on Earth is never out for the count. Russia has been an ailing giant - focused inward these past two decades.
But that may be changing.
Putin, with an iron fist and cold will, has found himself a hero in the eyes of his countrymen. Why? He's bringing order out of the chaos that resulted in the collapse of the USSR. Russia, slowly but surely, is getting back on its feet.
And now, even though Putin has officially left the high office, he still pulls the strings - and the puppet is dancing.
This week, Russia ran a successful test on a sea-based long-range nuclear missile - capable of traveling at least 4,000 miles. Not kid stuff.
More importantly, in the former Cold War scenarios, the USSR dominated in land-based missiles (ICBM's), while the US advantage was our flexible, and constantly in-motion sea-based missiles (SLBM's).
The SLBM - while not as long-range, can stealthily be brought to closer ranges. Several submarines run constantly, are kept under ultra-secret protocols without communications for long-periods, and without anyone knowing their whereabouts. They go deep and quiet, and create an element of surprise. The US, in a sense, is a nuclear terrorist. The threat can be anywhere, anytime. Like Jaws.
Now Russia's in the game. Or at least letting everyone know they're considering it.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev just completed a tour of Latin America. Interesting. Russia again interested in the Western Hemisphere.... Medvedev rightfully says Latin America is an area of strong potential economic growth and a place to forge ties. An area, that America often ignores, or assumes that our proximity gives grants us a special relationship.
Medvedev met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, signing several treaties and agreements including extending trade credits to South America's one oil producing nation. Given Chavez's anti-US bent, Medvedev would be stupid not to seize the opportunity to get in on the oil-train.
But more than anything, a Medvedev visit to Cuba hails reminiscent of less pleasant days in Russo-American relations. President Raul Castro and Medvedev had nothing but a friendly meeting to improve their relations - ending with an invitation for Castro to visit Moscow. Benign at face value. And perhaps a very good potential for the Cuban economy.
Will Russia turn back into the "Evil Empire" in a bipolar world? Probably not - on the verge of Definitely not. The world has changed too much - and so has Russia.
But let's not forget that the world's three largest countries - Russian, China and India line up border to border - and that they have strong, competing interests.
And while eyes are often on China as an up and coming economic and world power, or on the EU's consolidation of economic and political power - that no world order is complete without its largest country: Russia.
Will we see future Russo-Chinese tensions, especially over energy resources? Will Russia become friend to the Third World again? Will it help to balance out the world by adding another center of gravity in world affairs? After all, the bipolar Cold War world had some stabilizing effects that a unipolar, Pax-Americana world lacks.
Sometimes insular and isolationist, sometimes an outward force to reckon with - Russia rarely has been a quiet participant in a community of nations. It just depends on how it defines its interests.
Will Russia be more a part of Europe, Asia, or its own entity? At various points in its history it has chosen all of these.
It doesn't really matter which it ends up. Russia is rejoining the world stage. And while it still has miles to go before it becomes the economic force it could be, it has begun and will continue to impact the world.
Watch to the East.
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