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3rd March 2022 - Longer term impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
While to some, President Putin's invasion of more of Ukraine in February / March 2022 came as a shock, for many years there have been growing tensions and military operations on various borders of Russia.
President Putin's leadership has grown steadily more autocratic and imperial in tone, and increasingly hostile regarding the perceived strength of EU / NATO influence on Russia's bordering nations.
At the start of most Futurist keynote presentations I have given on global trends over the last decade, I have said that "The world can change faster than you can hold a board meeting", and the need for alternative strategies / backup plans and leadership agility.
This of course has been proven to be true over and over again - just think of COVID (and yes I warned repeatedly about threat from new viral pandemics). In my book The Future of Almost Everything, written in 2019, I listed Wild Cards - events that could have massive impact. One was the risk of a global viral pandemic, but another was a miscalculation by a powerful nation leading to sustained regional conflict (Russia implied but not named).
As I said those words about speed of change at the start of those keynotes, I have usually showed a series of slides including one of President Putin (making the point that a single decision / misjudgment by him could have immediate, huge impacts on a wide range of industries and sectors).
In my book The Future of Almost Everything, written in 2019, I listed Wild Cards - events that could have massive impact. One was the risk of a global viral pandemic, but another was a miscalculation by a powerful nation leading to sustained regional conflict (Russia implied but not named).
So Russia going to war into Ukraine should not be much of a surprise, taking yet more territory in another country, today Ukraine, but several other smaller neighbouring nations now more vulnerable to military attack.
I have travelled extensively across the region, visiting both Russia and Ukraine many times, with many friends in both nations.
What is happening will be immensely distressing to many millions of people in Russia, who also have strong Ukrainian ties. Here is a longer term perspective on what next.
The result of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine will be
- Huge immediate efforts by Ukraine allies to provide "hidden" military assistance by whatever means - eg weapons across whatever borders remain open (see Future of War article on hybrid conflicts)
- Rapid ramping up of military spending by all NATO nations, for longer term (which will feed further insecurities in President Putin and his senior leaders)
- Major challenges for Russia in imposing its will on the Ukrainian people who have a strong independent spirit (apart from coal mining regions to East which are strongly pro-Russian in culture)
- Issues of low morale amongst ordinary Russian soldiers, many of which have no interest in dying in Ukraine or in dominating it's people
- Constant leakage into global media of distressing video footage which is highly negative to Russia, taken on mobile phones and smuggled across borders even when entire phone networks and internet down - also reaching millions of Russian citizens despite government efforts to prevent this
- United efforts globally to damage the Russian economy and to take punitive action against political and business leaders
- Weakened Russian economy as result of all the above
- Further cycle of military investment by Russia - diverting resources from health, education, infrastructure etc
- Increased global carbon energy prices - which will also encourage investment in green energy, especially in Europe
- Political and social isolation / contempt of Russia on world stage
- A precedent that if successful may encourage military moves elsewhere eg China into Taiwan
And that's just the start.
Unfortunately, the Gulf War set a very dangerous precedent.
The aim to remove Sadam Hussain due to perceived threats of weapons of mass destruction, was an invasion with limited geopolitical justification. The US and UK invaded another nation.
Same with Afghanistan. In both cases regime change was the immediate goal - sounds similar to Russian stated objectives in March 2022 re war on Ukraine.
NATO war games often have depressing outcomes
NATO generals play war games (as Russian generals do with each other) on a fairly constant basis, mapping out what responses would be possible in various scenarios.
But all such war games are at risk of Group Think - too many generals from one nation or alliance playing with each other for example, without wider input, can risk major errors of judgement.
The issue has always been, since the Cold War began, that huge numbers of Russian tanks pouring across a border to the West would be impossible to stop with traditional hardware, which is why NATO invested such large amounts in tactical nuclear devices.
But if NATO takes the position (or more dangerously Russia assumes this is the case anyway) that nuclear response will be ruled out, then President Putin / Russia can effectively invade whatever bordering nations it wishes, so long as willing to put up with the daily costs of imposing rule over angry, outraged populations.
Russia also has many more tactical nuclear weapons which are more useful in local battles.
Wider context of Russian invasion of Ukraine
President Putin's support for Belarus in quelling major unrest following re-election of it's own President, was part of wider long term Russia foreign policy across the region leading up to the 2022 Russian war with Ukraine.
Plus previous seizure of Crimeria, previously part of Ukraine, support for a sustained and bloody hybrid conflict in Eastern Ukraine, plus taking territory in Georgia and so on, plus clamping down on political opposition as well as independent news reporting agencies.
The fact is that President Putin's decision-making has posed a major geopolitical threat to the region for a long time now, and will continue to do so.
Sense of Perspective - Russia has small economy and Ukraine a large population
However, to keep a sense of perspective, the entire Russian economy BEFORE SANCTIONS and the collapse of the Rouble, was similar in size to Spain or Italy. And Ukraine itself has 40 million people (Russia 140 million).
Russia is also heavily dependent on oil and gas sales to other nations - 17% of global gas production and 12% of global oil output and is the largest net exporter of oil and gas combined. Natural resources contribute around 60% to GDP.
Can you imagine Spain going to war against France - the economic impact. Or Greece invading Turkey? Consider the tax increases required to fund huge armies, Air Force etc - the cost of firing a single cruise missile, of losing a single fighter jet.
Russia really is a tiny economy compared to the US or China. Russia is not an economic superpower, yet has an identity and ambition for global greatness.
Fighting wars in the third millennium is extremely expensive. You can use cruise missiles and artillery and conventional bombing to destroy infrastructure and terrorise entire populations, but actual occupation is another matter altogether.
Occupying another nation always ends in failure and humiliation
Occupation is a risky undertaking for any nation invading another - as it almost always creates resentment, outrage, hatred. History shows us that all military occupations fail eventually.
How would Russia subdue and rule over 40 million people in Ukraine, the vast majority preferring to be independent of Russia?
So if Russia does seize the entire territory, which it has the military power to do, remaining as a military presence will be a massive drain on resources.
And Ukraine is not a wealthy nation which can be asset stripped to fund such Russian imperialism.
Ordinary Russian people aspire to Western lifestyles, and Moscow is a cosmopolitan, lively and dynamic city. A major downturn in economy will be hard to justify to the population if perceived to be the result of intemperate military adventurism.
Gas addiction is the great weakness of Western Europe - expect change
The great weakness of Western Europe continues to be its addiction to Russian gas. Expect even faster migration towards low carbon economies with rapid expansion of gas trade with other nations such as the United States.
You can read below what I wrote about the longer term future of Russia in The Future of Almost Everything, published / updated in 2019. A core message of the book, and of many other future-related books I have written, is this:
The world continues to turn through many a crisis - with our longer term future shaped by megatrends which are more powerful than decisions of government leaders or even global events such as viral pandemics.
Just one such megatrend is the relentless, year on year rise of emerging markets in economic strength and influence. Another is the relentless, year on year rise in concerns about future sustainability of our planet.
Read more: Russia invasion of Ukraine - War. Russia's past is key to it's military future. War and Russian economy, Russian foreign policy and political aspirations, future relationship between Russia, China, EU, NATO and America - geopolitical risks keynote speaker