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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

Content

MENASource

Oct 22, 2015

MENASource Podcast: Russia’s Intervention in Syria

By Aaron Stein and Faysal Itani

For the past three and a half weeks, the Russian Air Force and a handful of military advisers have been striking rebel held positions in Syria. The bulk of the airstrikes are concentrated along the M5 highway near the cities of Homs and Hama.

Russia Syria

News

Oct 21, 2015

Aslund on the Ukraine-Russia Gas Relationship

By Anders Aslund

Korrespondent quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on why Ukraine should not accept any gas from Russia:

Russia Ukraine

Emerging Defense Challenges

Oct 21, 2015

‘We Need a Freakin’ Budget’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Congressman Adam Smith says cap-free defense budget needed to address global challenges The Pentagon needs a long-term budget that is free of caps if it is to address important global threats, including from Islamist militants, Russia, and China, a senior Democratic lawmaker said on Oct. 21. “We need a freakin’ budget,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), […]

Iran Russia

Event Recap

Oct 21, 2015

European Security and Russia

By Transatlantic Security Initiative

On October 21, the Transatlantic Security Initiative hosted a group of Russia experts from Sweden’s Defense Research Agency for a private discussion on European Security and Russia. Over the last few years the Swedish Defense Research Agency has released a number of reports on European security and the Russian challenge, including Russian military transformation, Russian […]

Europe & Eurasia National Security
Russian warship celebrating Navy Day, July 26, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 21, 2015

Russia’s Syria Strategy Poses Challenge to NATO in Mediterranean

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

Russia’s military intervention in Syria is serving as a broader announcement of Moscow’s renewed determination to hold sway in the Middle East.

NATO Russia

MENASource

Oct 20, 2015

Russia’s Attacks in Syria May Only Create More Jihadists

By Mona Alami

Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled his entry into the Syrian conflict, following a rapid military buildup in the Latakia region, as a war on terror. Yet Russia’s very first airstrikes in Syria targeted areas where the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) had no known presence—regions occupied by the mainstream opposition, which the United States […]

Russia Syria

UkraineAlert

Oct 20, 2015

“No Fighting” in Ukraine Is Not “Peace”

By Aaron Korewa

The main problem with the West’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin is that it doesn’t seem to know who it’s dealing with. In an excellent article in Foreign Policy, Raymond Tanter states the bleatingly obvious—the Russian leader is nothing but a bully and should be treated as such. While the United States and Europe […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Oct 20, 2015

Barno and Bensahel: Putin Takes Center Stage in the Middle East

By Barno and Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellows for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel write for War on the Rocks on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s increasing engagement with the Middle East:

Middle East Russia

In the News

Oct 20, 2015

Karatnycky: How Putin’s Ukrainian Dream Turned Into a Nightmare

By Adrian Karatnycky

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky cowrites for Foreign Policy on Russia’s weakening stance in Ukraine: 

Russia Ukraine
Crew of a US Bradley vehicle participating in Noble Partner exercise, May 12, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 19, 2015

Despite Cuts, U.S. Army Prepares for Threats in Europe

By Emmarie Huetteman, New York Times

Less than three years after the United States Army sent home the last of its tanks that were permanently based in Europe, American commanders have been forced to rely on weapons shipped back temporarily or hardware borrowed from allies

NATO Russia

Experts