Okonkwo Samuel
I have read comments where people described Vladimir Putin as crazy, perhaps they don’t understand what is happening.
Russia (the epicenter of former USSR) and USA are super world powers. Both nations have been on each other’s neck since after WWII of who should become the defacto world power.
That was why when USSR traveled to space in April 12, 1961, US replied by landing a man on the Moon on July 20, 1969. This type of mutual suspicion of domination exist among rivals even in the private business sector.
The both countries have allies based on treaties signed. USSR (Russia) were able to get allies in South America with countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guatemala etc America never liked this because having friends of your enemies close to your borders is like having your enemy at your border.
The US used CIA and sanctions to destabilize these governments and also caused change of leadership. Only Cuba under Fidel Castro was able to resist every destructive move of the US, others like the vociferous Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and President Evo Morales of Bolivia were neutralized.
America then borrowed this template of ‘making friends with countries close to the borders of your enemy’, so they became friends with Hong Kong and Taiwan close to China, though China resisted this and got Hong Kong back to itself.
In Russia, the US made Ukraine their friend at the discomfort of Russia. Since Russia has made efforts to destroy that relationship to no avail, they then decided to work with separatist groups in Ukraine in order to annex them to Russia and widen Russia’s territory.
This power play is quite normal among rivals. For instance, if Nigeria and South Africa are enemies, and Benin republic or Togo want to become an ally of South Africa, Nigeria will do everything to prevent that for the safety of Nigerians.
The general rule is that once you share boundary with a Super power, the Super power will decide who your friends should be. So, Putin is not crazy as people think, he is doing what any super power will do to protect her territorial boundaries from possible future invasion.
~Stephen Akuma.
