Putin’s Russia: Aspiring to a Place of Prominence on the World Stage

By Rob Dannenberg

Rob Dannenberg served as chief of operations for CIA's Counterterrorism Center, chief of the Central Eurasia Division and chief of the Information Operations Center before retiring from the Agency.  He served as managing director and head of the Office of Global Security for Goldman Sachs, and as director of International Security Affairs at BP.  He is now an independent consultant on geopolitical and security risk.

Let there be no mistake, President Vladimir Putin believes Russia’s military intervention has been an unqualified success. As with the annexation of Crimea, now almost three years ago, the West’s efforts to thwart or diminish Putin’s strategic initiatives have failed abjectly. Sanctions have had no effect in mitigating Russia’s actions against Ukraine, either in Crimea or the Don Basin.

Diplomatic efforts, half-hearted support for anti-Assad militias, threats, and rhetoric have done nothing to slow down, much less deter, Russia in Syria. As is becoming increasingly clear, Putin considers Russia firmly re-established in one of the world’s most strategic regions. His current strategy centers around strengthening Russia’s relationship with three powers in the region, Iran, Turkey, and Egypt in addition to securing the continuation of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

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