"How The World Sees Russia" Issue #38: 12/15/2018 From the Publisher: We begin this week’s Rossiya Scan by taking a look at the latest saber-rattling move by Russia. Moscow sent two TU-160’s long-range nuclear bombers to Venezuela for joint military exercises. The visit by these two planes was not received well by the U.S who had some terse criticism for Moscow. France’s “Gilets Jaunes” were all over the news these past few weeks. Russia was said to have been involved in inflaming the situation with their social media tactics. The latter is something Russia has grown increasingly sophisticated at doing, much to the chagrin of the West which seems to always be its chosen victim. Russia is again raising eyebrows with their weapons technology. Moscow is allegedly developing a weapon called the Peresvet. This is likely to be a game changer and we bring you the most up to date facts of this secret weapon. Finally, we visit U.S National Security Advisor John Bolton’s latest comments on the growing role of Russia and China in Africa. Analyzing them from a realpolitik perspective. This issue will also be our last for 2018. We will resume publishing on January 12, 2019. -Rossiya Scan What is Russia Doing in Venezuela? In Rossiya Scan, we have already analyzed Russia’s ongoing role in Latin America. Placing a particular focus on Russia’s involvement in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Mexico. ​This week Russia made its presence felt by sending two long-range nuclear capable TU-160 to Venezuela. The move came shortly after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Moscow last week. Russia pledged its support for the authoritarian and criminal Maduro regime during the visit. Moscow is a major creditor of Caracas and agreed to re-structure a 2011 $3.15 bn loan related to military purchases. Maduro also said that Russia had plans to make billion dollar investments in Venezuela’s decaying oil and gold industries. The bombers were said to have been sent as part of the bilateral military relations of both countries. Venezuelan fighter jets (U.S made F-16's and Russian made Sukhoi SU-30's) flew alongside the bombers in a series of exercises over the Caribbean sea. Why did Russia send these bombers to Venezuela? In short…saber rattling. A s discussed in our last issue, the U.S recently made a move into waters claimed by Russia in the Sea of Japan. Here Russia wants to show the U.S that they have the capability to send long-range bombers to their sphere of influence. Also, that they have an ally in the region that welcomes them. “This is Russia trying to force the U.S. to say, ‘listen, if you withdraw from INF ( Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty ) and if you make these moves in Europe, we will make these moves as well,’” said Diego Moya-Ocampos, a Venezuela analyst for IHS Markit, according to Time. This is not the first time these bombers visited Venezuela. In 2008 and 2013, similar visits and drills were carried out. However, with Venezuela currently going through an economic collapse, and millions of Venezuelans leaving in droves, such a move by Russia does not exactly paint it in good light. Unlike the U.S, which recently sent a hospital ship to Colombia to provide Venezuelan refugees with care. Col. Rob Manning, a U.S defense department spokesman, summed the situation best. "Contrast this with Russia, whose approach to the manmade disaster in Venezuela is to send bomber aircraft instead of humanitarian assistance," said Manning, according to the AP. Russia (and its predecessor, the USSR) does not have a good reputation in Latin America. Countries that are (or were )aligned with them are usually seen as repressive, and inept. U.S allies in the Americas have done much better than any that have sided with Moscow. This little trip to Venezuela allowed Russia to project its military power. However, it again made it look like the infamous “bad guy” in world affairs. Read more: "After a Spat with the U.S, Russian Bombers in Venezuela Carried Out Drills Over the Caribbean," by Christopher Woody for Business Insider. "Here is Why Russian Bombers Are in Venezuela," by Michael Zennie for Time. "Russian TU-160's Fly 10-Hour Caribbean Patrol from Venezuela Drawing Ire for the U.S," by Joseph Trevithick for The Drive. "Russia Sends Two Nuclear Capable Bombers to Venezuela," by the Associated Press. "Putin Voices Support for Maduro as Leader Visits Moscow for Financial Aid," by the AFP. The Gilets Jaunes...and Moscow... “We live in a world where all wars will begin as Cyber wars… It’s the combination of hacking and massive, well-coordinated disinformation campaigns” - Jared Cohen, CEO of Jigsaw. Social media has dramatically invaded our lives, changed the way in which we digest information and interact with the world. Creating a new powerful weapon. Russia has always been notorious for its hacking abilities, continuously accused of meddling in different political/social issues of its neighboring European countries and even in the U.S 2016 presidential elections. Within Europe this includes Brexit, Catalonia and now the “Gilets Jaunes” movement in France. It is true that Russia is perceived as the trouble maker of Europe, and many times when things get sour, all eyes are on the Slavic neighbors. Nonetheless, it is true that many Twitter accounts known to promote Kremlin views, have been focusing on France recently. Adding fire to the troublesome protests in France. Even though Russia is trying to blow steam off the issue, during the most recent French Presidential elections (2017) Russian President Vladimir Putin did invite Marine Le Pen to Moscow, and has been linked to funding the far-right French political party, “Le Front National”. “Divide & Conquer”, terms wisely used by some of the greatest military and political leaders of all times, such as Julius Cesar and Napoleon Bonaparte. Russia is currently not experiencing its best social nor economic hour; similarly, most European countries are not at their best either. With Russian ability to toy around with its weak and fractioned neighboring countries, attention is diverted from other issues which may be more concerning to the European Union as a whole. Furthermore, manipulating the masses under weak European governments and supporting more extreme parties, gives Russia an opportunity to create friendships with the potential leaders of tomorrow. France and the “Gilets Jaunes” movement is just another consequence of poor European leadership. Russia can divert attention through social media at a very low cost, using its web of hackers or media pirates. According to Bruno Le Maire, France's finance and economy minister, the losses to the economy so far were “not recoverable” and warned that overall the protest could cut 0.1 per cent from GDP this year. The cost/effectiveness ratio is out of the charts in Russia’s favor. All in all, Russia does feel isolated and paranoid. Russia needs to divert attention, and here they are doing so using a tactic they have now mastered. That is the weaponizing of social media. Read more: “France to Probe Possible Russian Influence on Yellow Vest Riots,” by Carol Matlack and Robert Williams for Bloomberg . “French Business Counts the Cost of ‘Gilets Jaunes’ Protests,” by David Keohane and Harriet Agnew for the Financial Times . “Marine Le Pen: Who's funding France's Far Right?” by Gabriel Gatehouse for the BBC . “The Gilets Jaunes Have Cowed Macron. But For Them, That’s Just The Start,” by John Lichfield for the Guardian . Russian is Making the Weapons of the Future... It can be said, that since the end of the Cold War the world has lived in one the most peaceful eras known to mankind. Humanity is also undergoing a period of technological advances like no other. However, most of the greatest technological innovations (such as the internet, GPS, Satellite’s etc…) have been created by the military, which invest heavily in R&D. Nowadays we live in a dawn of escalating political tension and proxy wars. Simultaneously, nations are building up on technological progress to create new sci-fi weapons, which previously could only be seen in movies. In Rossiya Scan, we have previously highlighted the nature of Russian weapon development as defensive. Given the current state of affairs, with the U.S threatening to terminate the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty Russia is starting to show its cards. Recently Russia has showcased a new weapon named Peresvet, this is a laser weapon like no other before it. Although the Russians have only unveiled images of this weapon, it has caused a reaction. Not only due to the nature of the weapon, but also because it hints at a new escalation in weapon development which hasn’t been seen since the Cold War. The Peresvet weapon defense system, solves air and missile defense tasks. Tactically speaking, as new weapons such as drones are used in warfare, laser weapons are very effective in countering coordinated drone attacks. Russia has felt the pain of these drone attacks in its bases in Syria, the Peresvet is the Russian response to hinder these enemy attacks. Yet despite its defensive nature, the Peresvet is also used in recharging friendly drones. On top of these notable developments, the Russians have also been developing hyper sonic missiles called the Sarmat ,which can strike more effectively then the current Russian ICBM known as “Satan”which carries 10 nuclear warheads. Russia has always been at the forefront of military innovation. Although the tone of voice is getting more aggressive, we don’t know what the U.S and Russia are really preparing for. Regardless of this, these type of weapons are bound to increase the rivalry between these two powers. Read more: “27 Military Technologies That Changed Civilian Life,” by Adran Willings for Pocket-lint . "Russia Shows Off New Laser Weapon After