Putin Is Playing With Fire and We All May Get Burned
The tactics that worked in Ukraine and Syria would bring spectacular consequences if Russia takes them too far against the U.S. or Europe.
Have gun, will travel.
Photographer: Dmitri Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images
When the U.S., U.K. and France launched airstrikes against Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons facilities last month, the world watched anxiously to see how Russia’s Vladimir Putin would respond to this attack against his Syrian ally. While his response was muted, at least for the time being, that apprehension was a testament to how much Putin has raised Russia’s geopolitical profile over the past decade — and to the penchant for risk-taking that has been simultaneously his foremost strength and greatest strategic weakness.
That characteristic has allowed Russia to score a series of geopolitical victories under Putin. Yet it has also provoked international hostility that has taken a toll on the Kremlin, and raised the prospect of escalation that could end badly for everyone.