Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale		Russian Federation
Title		The United States has arguably threatened Russia
Summary		The United States has planned to install an anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. In response, Medvedev said Moscow would deploy the Iskander missile system in the Kaliningrad region. A missile system in the region, which is between NATO members, Lithuania and Poland, would neutralize the United States anti-missile system. Medvedez also threatened to electronically jam the United States anti-missile system.
Analysis		Russia feels threatened by both, the presence of NATO in its sphere of influence and the recent United States anti-missile policy. Russia believes that such threats will shift the balance of power in the region. Therefore Russia has created a missile system of its own in the Kalinigrad region. The action by Russia is an attempt to reshape and balance Russia’s perceived current off balance of power. The actions by both Russia and the United States have been noticed by the international community. There is a fear that the situation between the Russia and the United States may escalate. Such an escalation may result in a new arms race.
Perspective		Realist
In-Region URL		http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/32886
Out-of-Region URL		http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7710000/newsid_7710300/7710362.stm
Submitted		November 7, 2008 at 4:38 pm