Russia's return is something that most military and political
analysts have been looking out for ever since Putin's policies
reshaped it.
Whether, its a decisive factor remains to be seen since the
American military power is still a force to be reckoned with in
terms of quantity and quality. Russia will require force
projection capabilities which is still lacking today. Its
single carrier is hardly enough striking power to take on a single
USN CVBG.
Its air force and army's performance in Georgia also leaves
their credibility in doubt. Its still arguable whether the
Russian units involved in the conflict represented their current
A-team.
Looking ahead, Russia will probably periodically remind the
Europeans and Americans with a little flexing of the military
muscle. It serves to re-establish Russia's position in
international politics and how the EU and Americans deal with her
interests in the Caucusus and Middle East, and internally, to
revive the Russian Pride lost ever since the collapse of the Soviet
Union.
Russia needs to be treated with respect. Though their
military may not be supreme yet, they are still capable of
disrupting normalities and stability that the West have come to be
dependent upon.