ASSESSMENTS

The Front Line Drawn Across Russia's Backyard

Aug 8, 2017 | 09:15 GMT

Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova sit on the front line of Russia's battle with the West for international influence.

Russia's goal in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova is to weaken the West's influence while strengthening its own.

(Stratfor)

Editor's Note

As tension between Russia and the West has mounted in recent years, Moscow has increasingly turned to hybrid warfare to gain and hold ground in their contest for power and clout. This is the second installment of a five-part series exploring the geopolitical context, targets and tools of that strategy, as well as the steps Russia's adversaries are taking to counter it.

Globalization has changed how we think about time, space and distance, but geography is still the same where it counts: national security. The former Soviet states lining Russia's border know this better than most, since their proximity to the eastern giant renders them more vulnerable to Moscow's hybrid warfare tactics than countries farther afield. Nations like Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova sit on the front line of Russia's lasting battle with the West for influence in the international system, and they are the countries most at risk of being caught in the crossfire....

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