The Military Security of Russia Summary

The head of the Duma's Economic Policy Committee, Yury Maslyukov, wrote about the problem of guaranteeing the military security of Russia.

In the 21 st century, he said, three regions will be most important for the West: the Middle East and the Persian Gulf-, the Asia-Pacific region; and Russia and the post-Soviet countries.

The next few years will see the culmination of the fight for the Caucasus and Caspian oil. Regarding Western policies on the territory of the former Soviet Union, the most important will be to prevent any kind of integration within the CIS, to weaken Russia's position in the region and disrupt its union with Belarus.

U.S. policies are aimed at the rapid liquidation Russia's military and technological potential, which is rapidly becoming degraded by itself

Now, Maslyukov said, Moscow can expect new efforts from the West to impose its control over Russia's huge natural and energy resources. This will be achieved by creating the myths of the "criminal and bandit economy in Russia" and its export of military technology to Iran and other countries.

He said at present an immediate military threat to Russia would most probably take the form of local conflicts with extremists, who will be directly supported by the U.S. and other NATO countries, as well as by Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

In the 21st century, however, the U.S. and its allies will be able to attempt direct military attacks on Russia. They will try to isolate far-flung regions from Moscow, bring disorder to state and military administrations and destroy local military infrastructures.

The author said that under these circumstances, maintaining Russia's strategic nuclear forces and systems at a high level of readiness remains the most urgent task.