Putin on the Prowl

The world has rightfully taken notice of Russia’s role in the violence that is visibly escalating in the Middle East at the hands of ISIS. However, that unrest is not the only cause for international concern. More than two years after Russia forcibly annexed Crimea, it maintains a violent and aggressive presence in East Ukraine. With behavior that chillingly harkens back to the Cold War era, it is becoming increasingly clear that Russia won’t stop trying to forcibly broaden its territorial reach in an effort to reclaim its superpower status. Russia is again a very real threat to the United States and our NATO allies.

Earlier this month in the Baltic Sea, there was a too-close-for-comfort incident that occurred between the United States and Russia. While the missile destroyer USS Donald Cook was on a routine mission in international waters, Russian aircraft aggressively flew dangerously close to the American naval vessel. When the flyover occurred over a two-day period, it came within 30 feet of the destroyer. Even though the Russian plane was reportedly unarmed, the unprovoked and aggressive action should be given special attention. It’s important to recognize that this is the second U.S.-Russia run-in with the USS Cook in as many years.

Russia, led by the Machiavellian President Vladimir Putin, continues to showcase its capacity and capability and has not slowed following its illegal Crimea takeover. Russia’s billion dollar and growing investment in diesel and nuclear-powered submarines is evidence of a future with a more persistent and menacing Russian presence in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Baltic and Arctic.

In addition to the traditional ways nations project power, Putin is also utilizing tools of the information age—such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns—to manipulate opinion beyond its borders. Putin’s regime is connected to misleading and skewing public opinion in Europe through widespread propaganda. The Kremlin’s aggressive use of disinformation most recently influenced public opinion to oppose a European trade agreement with Ukraine in an April referendum vote in the Netherlands. Instigated by a petition on a hoax website that was clearly fed by Russian propaganda, the Dutch people were swayed by manufactured claims about Ukraine.

Beyond its manipulation of information and infiltration of media, Russia has advanced its game in cyberspace. In fact, at the end of last year, Russia attacked Ukraine’s power grid and caused massive power outages for thousands of civilians across the country. According to U.S. officials, this is particularly alarming given the similarities of Ukraine’s power grid to the United States. Without question, the fact that Russia successfully exploited weaknesses in Ukraine’s technology should cause America to be on high alert.

While the United States and other western countries have imposed sanctions on Russian companies, banks, individuals and assets following the annexation of Crimea, that hasn’t crippled or even slowed their actions in Ukraine. In fact, Ukraine remains $3 billion in debt to Russia and cannot rid itself of Russia’s stranglehold on its banking system.

If nothing is done to stand up to Putin’s regime, Ukraine’s troubles with Russia could soon become America’s troubles as well. Given the evidence of Putin on the prowl through both traditional and soft means of warfare, it is critical that America stands with Ukraine and our NATO allies against Russian imperialism. After all, Russia was already successful in bullying and taking Crimea and continues to rightfully concern the Baltic countries. Despite claims to the contrary, Putin is clearly ready and waiting to dismember and claim all of Ukraine. That is a precedent that America and our allies in Europe cannot allow to stand.