Russia's Geographic Challenge

Stratfor explains the geographic impetus behind Russia's need for regional dominance and its implications for global politics.

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[eitkoml]

This isn't Russia's geographic challenge. This is Poland's geographic challenge.

[samovarmaker]

The main geographic challenge that Russia faces is it's access to the world's oceans. Or rather lack of it. Russia may have a huge coastline in the north, but it's frozen over most of the time, and therefore is unreliable. Russia has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean, but it freezes over in the winter too. Russia has 2 coastlines along the Baltic Sea. 1 is St Petersburg, but it freezes in the winter as well. 2 in Kaliningrad, which thankfully does not freeze over. However, the Baltic Sea is connected to the ocean by the narrow Danish straits, and Denmark is part of NATO, and we all know how stable NATO and Russia's relationship is. Finally, there is the Black Sea. It does not freeze over in the winter, but then again, it is only connected to the Mediterranean (and therefore the oceans) by the Turkish straits, and Turkey is again a NATO member.

[suruchis]

This was by far the poorest video by stratfor, ..

[aretwodeetwo]

there should be at least 5 videos about Russia.  This video only covers one challenge.

[marcusdaniel]

Wtf this was basically an attack Guide on russia

[ThestDivision]

Wilhelm II? Wilhelm II?? Seriously Wilhelm II??? Who invaded East Prussia first???? 

[GermanskiNajezdzca]

Not even a word about Żółkiewski the only guy who conquered and held Moscow. The end of Polish occupation of moscow is the Russian independence day. I think you could point this fact in the movie if you include history in it.

[andraslibal]

How come you only count 3 attackers? Charles XII of Sweden also attacked Russia across the Northern Plains in the 1700s and Sigismund III of Poland also attacked Russia from that direction in the 1600s. That is at least 5 serious invasions threatening Russia's very existence.

[Earth]

This is so brilliant. Even more relevant today

[mefisto]

Poland was the main attacker by the plain, as it, among others, conquered Moscow in 1612'. I have a name for you: "Zygmunt III Waza"

[georgemacpherson]

@Stratfor when are you going to upload more of these videos since literally all of the world have challenges.

[basesurge]

Russia has an" indefensible and unforgivable territory"? Surely you mean "Unforgiving"...?

[alexanderlehigh]

Although none of those attackers actually conquered Russia.

[ronkiker]

You do realize they never said Russia borders those countries. They mentioned the mountain ranges that border those countries. Huge difference my friend. And given that they were mentioning that mountain range, in the context of a large mass of land that is difficult to defend...i'd say they were quite accurate in their analysis.

[ObssesedNuker]

From the perspective of this report, the Russian Far East isn't distinguished from the rest... everything east of the Ural Mountains is considered Siberia. Indeed, from a geographic and biome standpoint there isn't actually much difference between the RFE and Siberia.

[franbatista]

i meant that they continue to approach levels seen in those countries and in 10-20 years they'll reach it. This is a process that takes time to improve and it improves every year. i didn't say it didnt happen (people dying of alcohol, etc) but that number decreases every year, and this year, for example, alcohol and tobacco have got Mega-taxes on them.

[ricklongley]

So much Russia hate in the comments... Can't we all just get along?

[Misha]

Well, the only question is that Russia doesn't need Baltic sea unless Europe needs it to trade with Russia.
By now none of Europeans trade with Russia due to the sanctions.
Old USSR pipe still working through "Ukrain in war" without a single damage...

[ohemeffgeee]

I request an update because of the current Ukraine crisis-- Also, the separatist groups in the Caucasus are totally ignored here!

Also, the EU/Russian spheres of influence are not referred to at all here.

[guptaaks]

This is what even McKinder had said in early 20th century..which in turn had set the tone for the geopolitics before 2nd world war..
But then such an understanding about Russia is nothing less than being incomplete in the context of 21st century where there are so many other forms of warfares/other ways by which somebody can attack the vast expanse of territory !