Russia Seeks a Solution to a Major Economic Vulnerability

As tensions continue between the West and Russia over the country's resurgence in its periphery, the future of Ukraine and Western expansionism, Moscow has made a series of moves to protect itself should these tensions translate into crippling economic and financial measures. Stratfor has long followed Russia's shift of energy exports from a position of near total reliance on the West to the current flexibility to export east. The international exposure of Russia's banking system has also been scaled back due to risks posed by Western sanctions. Now, Russia is looking to correct another important vulnerability: its international credit processing systems.