Massive Russian Military Buildup In Asia

Rebecca M. Miller, National Interest: Russia's Massive Military Buildup in Asia

Russia has doubled the number of S-400 air defense system it deploys in its far east region as part of a larger military buildup in the region.

Reports in Russian state-media, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, say that Moscow has deployed yet another S-400 missile defense system to the Kamchatka Peninsula; according to the Russian defense ministry. The reports said that Russia ultimately intends to deploy five S-400 systems to protect Kamchatka’s skies.

The S-400 is one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, and can be equipped with missiles with ranges between 120 km to 400 km (long-range). The system can shoot down anything from small aircraft to ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

WNU Editor: The Russian focus from the media has always been on Europe, but Russia is also an Asian country and the Pacific side of the Arctic is seen as critical for Russian trade and energy with Asia.

Russia Shifts To The East

Photo Credit: REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

As Tensions With West Rise, Moscow Looks to Asia -- Richard Weitz, The Diplomat

With large-scale military exercises and huge energy deals, Russia has been increasingly assertive in Asia.

Russia’s security differences with NATO countries have been encouraging Moscow to strengthen ties with Asian countries, above all China. These differences range from concerns over U.S. missile defense programs to unease about NATO’s increasingly capable conventional weapons to dissatisfaction with Moscow’s minimal influence on European security issues due to Russia’s non-membership in NATO. The U.S. “pivot” to Asia has also irritated Russian policymakers given Washington’s reluctance to engage Russia as an Asian power. But Moscow and the West do share overlapping security interests in Iran, North Korea, WMD nonproliferation and especially Afghanistan. These interests should buffer Russian-Western tensions for now and perhaps provide the foundation for a better relationship in the future.

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Update: Russia's Military on the March in Asia -- Ariel Cohen, National Interest

My Comment: This shift to the east should not be a surprise. Europe is broke, becoming dysfunctional, and has little to offer to Russia. The Far East is booming .... they have the money and energy to keep on growing .... and more importantly for Russia .... massive and eager markets for their commodities.

Russia Sends A Message To China And Japan

Russia Holds Massive Military Drill Aimed at China, Japan -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

Russia is holding its biggest war games since the era of the Soviet Union in its Far East region that borders on China, Japan and Korea.

President Vladimir Putin ordered the snap drill on Friday when he told the Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu to inform countries like China that border on where the drill will be held. It is the third such snap drill to be held by Russia since Putin reassumed the office of the presidency.

Putin has praised holding snap drills as the best way to demonstrate combat readiness.

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My Comment: Russia may be sending a message .... but both China and Japan have other priorities .... starting with their own maritime border disputes.