Russian Relationships with Former Soviet States

TOPIC SPONSOR: EUCOM - Russia Strategic Initiative

What is the Russian relationship with former Soviet states? What does the Kremlin perceive as challenges or opportunities with these relationships? 

• Akhmetova, Aigerim T., "Armenia-Azerbaijan Wars: Looking for Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Resolution," AUAR SOS elective paper (ISR), 2021, 10 pgs.

• Buck, LTC Christopher M., "NATO Expansion & Georgia: Challenges in a Volatile Europe," AWC PSP 2022, 33 pgs.
   
• Burns, Capt. Patrick, "Comparing the Military Posture of NATO Forces with that of Russian Forces in and around the Baltic Region," SOS AUAR, 2021, 7 pgs.
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• Cîrjău, Commander Adrian, Romanian Air Force, "Strategy and Military Transformation on NATO's Eastern Flank," AWC PSP, 2020, 24 pgs.
   
• Cîrjău, Commander Adrian, Romanian Air Force, "Security Implications of the Russification Policy" , AWC elective paper, 2020, 10 pgs.
   
• DeArco, Angelo, "Russian Hybrid Threats during the Libya Civil War: Lessons Learned and Their Applicability to a Baltic States Scenario," SOS AUAR paper, 2020, 9 pgs.
   
• Dolan, Capt. Joseph A., "In their Words: Russian A2/AD Characteristics in the Baltics," SOS AUAR paper, 10 pgs.
   
• Driggers, Maj. Paul, "Influence and Intrigue: The Bear, the Crescent and Transcaucasia," ACSC paper (Russia Research Task Force), 2024, 38 pgs. 
• Fineran, Col. Thaddeaus D. "Russian Military Reform after the 2008 Georgian War," AWC elective paper, 2019, 8 pgs.
   
• Hays, Capt. Joseph M., "Escalation in the Baltics: An Overview of Russian Intent," SOS AUAR, 2020, 10 pgs.
   
• Ince, Capt. Daniel, "The Russian Anti-Access/Area Denial Security Issue over Kaliningrad and the Baltics," SOS AUAR, 2021, 11 pgs.
   
• Kane, Lt. Col. Jason, "US Basing Presence in Eastern Europe," AWC elective paper, 2019, 7 pgs.
   
• Lagveen, Lt. Col. Wielko, "Russian Foreign Policy towards Its Near Abroad," ACSC elective paper, 2020, 11 pgs.
   
• Magnusson, Lt. Col. Niclas (Swedish AF), "Russia and the Baltic," AWC elective paper, 2019, 12 pgs.
• Magnusson, Lt. Col. Niclas (Swedish AF), "The Security Dilemma in the Baltic Sea Region," AWC Strategic Studies paper, 2020, 34 pgs.  
   
• Mastalski, Capt. Michael, "Russia's Implementation of Hybrid Warfare: Estonia, Georgia, Crimea," SOS AUAR, 2021, 14 pgs.
   
• Reinecke, Capt. Christopher, "The Kaliningrad Dilemma: A Nuclear Flashpoint," SOS AUAR, 2021, 11 pgs.
   
• Street, Lt. Col. W. Austin, "Russia's Declining Power Means Opportunity Ahead: Why the Outcome of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Matters to the United States," AF Fellows paper (Stanford University), 2024, 3 pgs. 
• Szczepanski, John T., "Kaliningrad's Place in Russia and Europe: Implications of the February 2022 Russian Escalation in Ukraine and Prospects for Future Engagement with Kaliningrad," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2023, 23 pgs. 
• Tempia, Maj. Matthew, "Russia, NATO and Key Countries," ACSC elective paper, 2019, 12 pgs.
   
• Theurer, Capt. William, "USAF intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise: Priority Efforts and Challenges in Support of a Baltic Crisis," SOS AUAR paper, 2020, 8 pgs.
   
• Vidal, Lt. Col. Brus, "Understanding Key Base Politics Factors when Considering Potential Basing Locations: Lessons from the Kyrgyzstan Model" AWC elective paper, 10 pgs.
   
• Watson, Capt. John D., "Russia's Recent Conquests and Long-Term Strategy in the Arctic," SOS AUAR, 2021, 16 pgs. (Published on Wild Blue Yonder, 2 July 2021) 

BLACK SEA/CAUCASUS REGION

• Bass, Maj. Jordan, "Crimea as a 'Shatterzone': Russia, the United States and a Re-Colonization Process," ACSC elective paper (Putin's Russia), 2020, 15 pgs. 
• Cîrjău, Commander Adrian, Romanian Air Force, "Basarabia," AWC elective paper, 2020, 12 pgs.
   
• Harris, Bryan, "Influence and Identity: Russian Activity and Its Impacts in Ukraine," AWC elective paper, 2019, 9 pgs.
   
• Peisker, Lt. Col. Daniel (German AF), "Natural Gas as a Means of Coercion against Germany?: A Comparison with the Russian-Ukraine Gas Dispute," AWC elective paper, 2020, 17 pgs.
   
• Peisker, Lt. Col. Daniel (German AF), "The Russian-Ukraine Relationships in the Energy Sector: A Case of Failed Coercion?" AWC elective paper, 2020, 14 pgs.
• Peisker, Lt. Col. Daniel (German AF), "German-Russian Gas Relations: Cause for European Divide or Eurasian Bridge?" AWC Strategic Studies paper, 2020, 33 pgs. 
   
• Schnell, Maj. Andrew T., "The 2008 Russo-Georgian War: An Analysis of the Effect of Information Operations on Kinetic Operations," AF Fellows paper (Johns Hopkins), 2023, 27 pgs. 
• Tecuceanu, Col. Emil F. (Romanian AF), "The Status Quo of Romanian-Russian Relations," AWC Strategic Studies paper, 2018, 25 pgs. 
• Thomspon, Maj. Clayton, "Black Sea Basing: Deterring Russia's Ability to Influence the Region," ACSC elective paper, 2019, 10 pgs.