The Russian / Georgian War

By John Alexander
Executive Director

Russia’s attack on Georgia signals a shift in the balance of power within the region and perhaps throughout the world that will have significant implications on all of Europe as well as the United States and China.

BACKGROUND:

On August 7th, 2008 troops from the Republic of Georgia invaded territory held by South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia that had declared its independence back in the early 1990’s. That independence had not been diplomatically acknowledged by the United Nations, who still saw South Ossetia as a part of Georgia.

On August 8th, Russian troops entered South Ossetia, citing a kind of informal alliance between the two “countries”. By August 10th, Russia had secured their position in South Ossetia and begin to eyeball Georgia proper, which they then invaded the next day.

ANALYSIS:

This raises several obvious questions to us here at the Global Affairs Council. Why did Georgia invade South Ossetia in the first place? How was Russia able to react so quickly and effectively? Did Russia lure Georgia in so that the could use the “invasion” as a pretext to invade themselves? Why did this happen now, when the eyes of the world are turned to the Olympics in Beijing? Will the United States react, or will they be unable to stop Russia?

Bogged down with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, contemplating another action in Iran, and facing a Presidential election that will soon sweep the current administration out of office, the United States is seemingly overdrawn and unable to answer the situation in Georgia.

This action seems to re-establish Russia’s military might after its crushing defeat during the fall of the former Soviet Union and is seen as an attempt to re-establish Russia’s sphere of influence and signal to the world a comeback of Russian power under the rule of Vladimir Putin.

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August 21, 2008 | Filed Under Russia 

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