Why Russia wants to restore the Soviet borders

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With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia lost centuries of territorial expansionism. It was left exposed and at risk of further disintegration.
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[@CaspianReport]

✔ The first 100 people to go to www.blinkist.com/CaspianReport are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You'll also get 25% off if you want the full membership.

[@opinion4755]

This video is as smart as playing CIV 5 on beginner.

[@SynomDroni]

Not a bit biased?

[@dahasolomon7314]

Shirvan for the love of God please pronounce it as Mos-go instead of Mos-cow. I can't stand the american pronunciation.

[@selfReferencinDox]

*weird.* I clicked your video and saw that I wasn't subscribed to you. I was pretty sure that I was subscribed to your channel, bro.

[@agentorange6085]

Russia has no more "need" to conquer and annex these territories than Hitler had the "need" to exterminate Russians and occupy their homes to secure his own homeland. This is an apology for Russian expansionism and has total disregard for the lives of the people in the lands whose freedom you dispose of so casually.

[@pedroromeiro3958]

Believe it or not we brazilians sometimes use Belgiums to measure our rainforest deforestation rate

[@gouthamsudheer5544]

Why Not using "Sri Lanka" instead of Belgium??

[@dauletbaimagamabet]

so sad :(

[@Argentvs]

@@gouthamsudheer5544 Most people will say what the fuck is a Ssss hhh rri how the fuck is pronunced, Lanka.

[@dragooll2023]

@@gouthamsudheer5544 Sri what?

[@generalmarkmilleyisbenedic8895]

You guys cant do anything. Cant wait til a coalition comes to smack you people in the face for burning and chopping down our unique rainforests

[@Mesozoic_mammal]

"Russia was expanding at a rate of one belgium per year" And I thought we germans were the only ones that use Belgiums as a measurement unit for expansion! :D

[@sorrybro4890]

Belgium: Now I know why I exist

[@fhujf]

Should have used Toyota Corollas as a measure.

[@philip8498]

nah, we measure our expansion is polands per year. belgiums per year is the measurement for how much our invasion of france got halted.

[@B15HOP]

China expanding one China Sea per year?

[@wp12mv]

And here I thought German expansion was measured in Polands per year

[@ryans5707]

"At a rate of one Belgium per year" Is that the standardized measurement for territorial expansion? 🤔

[@johnalan6067]

For germany, yes.

[@user-qk5mm1yw7y]

@Beren Erchamion it's their own fault, the reason belgium is a "thing" is because britain wouldn't accept french interests in the region

[@TanyaLairdCivil]

@@johnalan6067 For some reason all the travel guides I found in Berlin said the best way to see Paris was through Belgium!

[@Anglo_Browza]

Beren Erchamion shut up 🤫

[@KaiserStormTracking]

@@TanyaLairdCivil Sus

[@fderon]

Here we are half a year later and your analysis is proving spot on.

[@aryanyadav3690]

Yeah it's Russia almost captured Kiev 💯

[@abaddon6579]

As bad as this is going to sound... I understand why Russia is doing what it's doing... NATO should leave Ukraine under Russia influence if it wants peace

[@RERM001]

I think you got it backwards, Russia must leave Ukraine alone or risk disolving, again.

[@mensrea1251]

@@RERM001 There is no backwards or forwards in this. It’s geopolitics. Putin is a tyrannical dictator, no doubt, but it’s perfectly legitimate for Russia to be concerned about NATO expansion on its doorstep. 5 times over the past 4 centuries an invading army has tried to dissolve the Russians from the West. How many fkn times does that have to happen before ignorant people like you begin to understand Russia’s concerns. The US was willing to risk nuclear war over Cuba. If the Chinese entered into a military cooperation pact with a deeply anti-American Mexico government and started equipping and training Mexican soldiers while setting up forward facing military equipment along the Rio Grande, the US would raze Mexico City to the ground before allowing that to continue. There are no clean hands in international politics. This isn’t fkn Disneyland.

[@auto_revolt]

@@mensrea1251 There is zero appetite for war from western nations / NATO. This much should be obvious from our reluctance to put "Boots on the ground". War between NATO and Russia has no winners.

[@azamkhan1526]

new unit invented by Shirvan: 1Belgium per year

[@sobertowelie3267]

Americans will surely use that before they even think about the Metric system.

[@autumn64fromdeltarunechapter3]

@@sobertowelie3267 jokes on you, half of americans probably only think that Belgium is a waffle company ~an american

[@generalmarkmilleyisbenedic8895]

You all spelled “german speedbump” wrong. What the hell is a belgium

[@NeelixSeQ]

@@generalmarkmilleyisbenedic8895 Ha, we sold uranium to both US and Germany after that tough , KACHING! (sound of Belgian cashregister , also expends waffle scent )

[@amjadkhan-qy1ny]

Azam Khan did you Know that Pakistan is British Puppet state which was create brutal force ?

[@dahasolomon7314]

"To know a countries geography is to know it's foreign policy" Words to live by.

[@EPICoutcast24]

Definition of Geopolitics in a nutshell

[@Mr67Stanger]

Our (US) Foreign Policy is based on what Israel wants.

[@cleantoad4332]

@@Mr67Stanger shut up

[@trippybruh1592]

Lol have you seen the anti semites in the US Congress lately? Israel is on her own the next 4 years.

[@segevkrespi8609]

@@trippybruh1592 not really. Despite the squad and the far left in Congress most of the moderate democrats and republicans support Israel. The US still sees Israel and other countries like Jordan and Egypt has key allies in maintaining some stability in the ME

[@dreplays3280]

“Expanded one Belgium per year” I love that measuring system 😂

[@MrScientifictutor]

You know what they say. A Belgium a year keeps the step nomads away.

[@Rgermian]

It's a standard measurement system in the US

[@closmasmas9080]

I came straight to the comments after hearing that 😂

[@liveoak227]

@@Rgermian Belgium is the metric measurement, Maryland is the standard

[@brandonpederson8808]

Love you all god bless 🥂

[@LouDeVere]

I found your understanding of Russian history and its borders very helpful to me especially as I'm trying to understand the current crisis unfolding in Ukraine. Thank you so much.

[@semiramisubw4864]

Well, we can say that russia is concerned for decades after the dissolution. The West just ignored every concern and adopted more and more nations into NATO. 2008 Putin said that every further attempt to expand eastwards.. he will seperate east ukraine and make it russian again. Crimea was also a very much needed part of land to have entrance to the warmwater ports to the black sea. Right now Russia marches in Ukraine and will probably set up a new moscow friendly goverment there. This all could be avoided if both sides worked together more and took russia also seriously. Im Curios that they waited so long to act actually, i expected this years ago.

[@I_hu85ghjo]

@@semiramisubw4864 doesnt Russia already have access to the black sea? Or am i missing something?

[@crowd175]

@@I_hu85ghjo they didn't wanted to NATO get the naval base there it would be a strategic disaster for them

[@wafercrackerjack880]

@@semiramisubw4864 You speak as if Ukraine is owned by Russia. That's the problem there. Russia is just too greedy. Putin is just too greedy. NATO is a military alliance, while Russia is trying to expand its territory, they are not comparable. There's nothing to work on between those two because at the core of this conflict is Putin's ego.

[@sweeeetteeeeth]

@@semiramisubw4864 putin's a bully, you're trying to justify a horrible, unnecessary crime

[@florin-titusniculescu5871]

somebody tell the Belgians they need to expand at a rate of one Russia every year.

[@florin-titusniculescu5871]

@@serdobsky_ и 50к., это счастье 😂

[@TheTokkie]

Looking at how they ruled in Congo I don't think that would be a good idea

[@florin-titusniculescu5871]

@@TheTokkie aside from this potentially be the greenest empire ever, you're right 😄

[@Omer1996E.C]

The world would turn to Belgium in 6 years

[@florin-titusniculescu5871]

@@Omer1996E.C ... and then space, the final frontier 🤣

[@hilmansudirman9857]

Before the mongols subjugated The Rus Principalities, these proto russian city states don't even try to expand anywhere beyond their city walls. After the mongols however, they're so obsessed to control the whole eurasia just to protect moscow.

[@ДанијелЂорђевић-э9з]

Russia is successor of the Mongolian empire. Russia is always super power.

[@hilmansudirman9857]

@@ДанијелЂорђевић-э9з No it's not, Russia become super power because of foreign invasion.

[@rubensneto9049]

Trauma

[@starestairs5090]

Well that is a long time ago No justification for Russia to continue seeking to rule over other countries

[@ДанијелЂорђевић-э9з]

@@hilmansudirman9857 How is that posible?

[@allenpradhan2063]

Russia expanded 1 Belgium per year Americans: finally a measurement system we can use 😂

[@krishna4817]

Lol

[@shadow-monger5189]

We usually measure by hamburgers or alaskas but belgiums can work too. Our largest I know is by purchases. Like the Louisiana purchase! Three of them basically make an america!

[@werty21100]

Belgium: am I a joke to you?

[@Sam_Sabaka1]

What’s a Belgium all I know is Big Macs- per bald eagle

[@allenpradhan2063]

@@Sam_Sabaka1 more like war crimes per corporate bailout 😂😂

[@happykiwi]

most of the top comments are about your use of Belgium as a unit of measurement but I think we ought to give more recognition to the depth of thought and research that went into this video. Great effort, great content, and very well presented with the visuals.

[@Zemlya99]

Exactly some people are absolute sheeps

[@Oagungengen]

yeah its annoying how some stupid kids just upvote the same fucking comment which adds nothing interesting other than just rewriting the phrase that doesnt even belong to them

[@samcruickshanks6856]

Fully agree

[@luckyPiston]

@@Oagungengen KZbin will never be an intellectual form as long as the majority of its viewers are dumb as a hammer.

[@jamesmccreary2442]

Agree, took me way too long to find something relevant. This was supremely educational, I agree!

[@daniell1483]

I've found modern Russia's foreign policy to be confusing, but understanding the geography like this helps one understand. Russia is afraid of an invasion by external foes and wants to get borders that are cheaper to maintain, but to grasp them would mean war. So they use any means necessary to try and get the borders they once held. Ironic, but Russia's fear of invading forces and relying on force instead of diplomacy is raising tensions, possibly creating a conflict that they are trying to avoid. It is a scary situation but a good analysis nonetheless.

[@derunfassbarebielecki]

A war declared by Nato is nearly impossible as long as Russia is a reliable source of fossil fuels. China is their strategic partner so a war here would be also impossible. Russia is struggling since years because of Putins corruption. Like every dictatorship struggling within its own borders Putin tries to cover it up with aggressions against a made up concept of an enemy. Nato even just left Syria so russia could maintain its political grip over the region. China is also struggling now within its borders, thats why aggressions against Nato and neighbouring nations have risen so much, they need also a enemy to use it for populism among its own people.

[@KitchenFSink]

@@derunfassbarebielecki Ahh the average CNN enjoyer can be seen here

[@derunfassbarebielecki]

@@KitchenFSink The news im consuming arent american at all. But yeah stick to your small little world where every critique against russia is done by americans. Be sure that the true liar is the one defaming any critique, organisation or person against him as foreign agents etc. Reporters without borders, amnesty international and many more are part of the critics and if you know them you would know, that their relationship to CNN and even the American government is pretty bad. Funily enough RT is spreading lies about the pandemic in the west, but is supporting Putin back home, just like this media is for propaganda usage only.

[@KitchenFSink]

@@derunfassbarebielecki "Aggressions against NATO are common" is enough for me to dismiss your comment as a whole.

[@derunfassbarebielecki]

@@KitchenFSink Thats because im right. Putins whole foreign policy is a big aggression towards Nato and China. Proof me wrong if its so easy to dismiss my claims. Germany wants to seperate political and economical coorporation with russia and on the other hand Putin makes it cleat that he utilizes economical warfare towards germany and other semi-neutral Nato members. Hopefully Russias recent aggressions will lead to a relocation of Germanys Russia policies. And be sure as the biggest economy of Europe Germany will kill Russias economy, it will be worse than the sanctions against the invasion of Crimea.

[@motasemsalameh1521]

His map rotation is getting out of hand 😂😂

[@treefarm3288]

I like it because you don't often get the polar outlook from more southerly peoples.

[@AL73250]

I got dizzy

[@matpk]

@@treefarm3288 Compare 1930s Nazi Germany Vs 2020s Communist Chinazi IN YOUR NEXT VIDEO Project.

[@Fireneedsair]

It’s a little annoying but it really forces you to know the shapes of nations

[@Зулу-щ1й]

Tell him the Earth is not a sphere and none rotating.

[@szupryk]

1. Russia has nuclear weapons so no one will actually attack them military into their heartland. 2. There is no appetite in Europe or the US to Attack Russia in foreseeable future, with maybe the exception of Kaliningrad oblast but even then no one will actually even articulate that due to the high risk of such a move. 3. what actually is a threat to Russia is internal collapse due to the un-attractiveness of Russia's economically political model to its own citizens. 4. So actual idea is to weaken or destroy alternatives on their borders & consolidate internally based on war mobilisation. 5. It has nothing to do with foreign aggression treat but solely with Russia internal politics

[@charptho]

Great analysis. I would add that the Russian economy is too reliant on oil and gas industry, and therefore their foreign policy is not only a matter of internal political propaganda but a way to secure the access to those ressources.

[@MsGreenlamp]

Wish it was in the video, not some century old bs.

[@markonikolic7957]

Exactly, if anything is to be the end or Russia it's the internal conflict not NATO directly attacking them. If Moscow losses it's grip on power non Russian Republics like Chechnya, Dagestan and others will start demanding more autonomy and ultimately full independence. It's probably what Kremlin fears the most and USA and NATO are well aware of that.

[@nate9820]

I see you guys talking about Russia’s biggest threat being internally and that the US and NATO wouldn’t invade in the near future. In the video he also mentioned the threat of China and Turkey in the Caucuses and Central Asia. I’m not an expert but wouldn’t that be a bigger threat to Russia rather than internal matters? I’m just here to learn :)

[@NikiHerl]

Yeah. Of course I'm just some guy, but as an EU citizen, the thought of attacking Russia is utterly outlandish.

[@theraven6836]

Watching this on day 35 of the Russian Ukrainian War. You were spot-on accurate.

[@avinavkrishna]

"Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him." The quote is attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky, just in case anyone was curious to know. And Napoleon said- to know a nation's geography is to know its foreign policy

[@andreasproteus1465]

The CIA Report would be a better title for this channel.

[@wakhansharma8225]

Certainly this is CIA report

[@vladimirseven777]

It would be easier to understand if narrator remembered times when Moscow became part of Golden Horde and finally took lead.

[@apuuvah]

Yeah, that's total BS. They are very easy to understand and very predictable.

[@wakhansharma8225]

Yes bro with the help of world's most powerful propaganda machine USA think that they can fool the whole world haha no way it's not going to happen.

[@joeyt9259]

If Russias back is against the wall and they turn around and fight, aren't they just fighting a wall? Lol

[@ghost21501]

Good catch.

[@vos3373]

Russia is the north, the wall

[@TomAndersonn]

I like how your 🧠 works

[@phillip_iv_planetking6354]

@@vos3373 Russia is a backwater nation. Most of it's small towns and small cities are dying. Most towns and small cities have no roads or running water. It's economy is smaller than Texas, a single state in the United States. Russian GDP 1.7 Trillion Texas GDP 1.9 Trillion LOL

[@Robert-qu5sj]

@@phillip_iv_planetking6354 still with military budget 15 times smaller than US has, Russia is capable to overpass Americans in hypersonic weapons, rockets, fighting jets and military programming. Sounds fun isn’t it? By the way, lately mighty Texas with excessive GDP was incapable to withstand a single storm. And the whole state with $1,8 trln by GDP left the vast majority of households without electricity, heating and hot water. Money doesn’t show you the full picture.

[@princeamori]

Caspian Report: Why Russia wants to restore the Soviet borders Russian Neighbors: Winter is coming.

[@wv9529]

Expanding border is sooo 19-20th century . In the 21st century what matters is to empower each socities gifted individuals to create wealth through enterprenership and r&d. The US poaching of elon musk from SA is 10 times more valuable than getting control of a decently profitable oil field.

[@rafradeki]

@@wv9529 The issue is educated people are double edged sword for dictatorships. They are more likely to meddle in your affairs should they not be sadisfied with your rule

[@TheHunterOfYharnam]

@@wv9529 no, if you have perfect borders like the usa sure but if you are in a vurnable geographic position like most states, then no

[@wv9529]

@@rafradeki which is way modern sucesfful societies are either democracies or technocratic dictatorships which can absorb these people , other wise you get either brain drain or chaos

[@YankaRonin]

Nay, with Baltics it's like "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

[@the_real_ch3]

If Russias security depends on the baltics, Poland, and Ukraine perhaps Russia should not have treated the people in those lands so poorly for so long that once they gained their independence they would immediately seek refuge with Russias enemies.

[@ararune3734]

Or, better yet, don't exapnd so much that your only option to hold the territory is to keep claiming more territories. At this point they need to control the whole Earth to feel safe. Safe from what? Their imaginary threats. Safe from their incompetence to compete economically.

[@leyasep5919]

@@ararune3734 I had the same thought... it's a fallacy of security : if you're 99% safe, are you "safe" ? And 99.9% ? 99.99% ? ...

[@ararune3734]

@@leyasep5919 You can never achieve absolute security. Even countries that join NATO can't say they're secure, it's more so a deterring factor. Like I don't know if you've read about it but literally last night a Russian drone crashed in the Croatian capital, which is a NATO member. It flew through 3 countries with not so much as a warning, when really it should've been taken down in Romania already. Flew through Hungary for 40 minutes.

[@0hn0haha]

They didn't seek refuge immediately, to be fair. Russia was too fucked up in the 90's to make friends with anyone so they sought European aid and partnerships

[@0hn0haha]

@@ararune3734 also...imaginary threats? Russia has been invaded brutally a whole lot of times. Mongols invaded incredibly brutally, it's still a damn scar in the historical psyche, attempts by the Livonian order and minor European powers on Novgorod (the last independentish part of Kievan Rus), then 100 years after figuring our independence from the Golden Horde, collapse due to external forces trying to install puppet kings in a weak moment. Major invasions my Poland, very traumatic experience as well. Then 100 years later it's the Swedes, less brutal but still violent invasion, threatening Russian statehood and therefore culture. 100 years later, it's the damned French who made their way all across Europe to invade Russia. 100 years later, it's Germany and it's Allies, twice, the second time with the goal of wiping out most of the population and enslaving the rest, also nearly succeeding. So yeah, imaginary threats.

[@mohammadzaid1221]

"How old are you ?" "I am 0.1 Belgiums"

[@Sh4d891]

Lol

[@Utars]

so, 19 ?

[@PedroTricking]

What a nightmare of a unit. As time passes the unit counts more. So maybe not you're 0.1, next year you'll be like 0.11 but the year after you'll be like 0.119.

[@mohammadzaid1221]

@@Utars yeah 😂

[@christiankalinkina239]

@@Utars wait how I can't math

[@wp12mv]

Russia can never keep on competing with economies that are mulitple times their size, It's a miracle they've kept up this long

[@dulat]

It's not a miracle. It's because U.S. and Europe provided humanitarian aid and generous funding to the starving Russian workers and scientists throughout the 90s.

[@leolafortune1255]

@@dulat Really now?

[@alancient8463]

@@dulat highly doubt that lol

[@Xlapiranaprx]

@@alancient8463 that’s a fact, lear history.

[@zagreus1249]

Well Globally Russia is falling behind in terms of its influence but Regionally No it is still maintaining its influence

[@magnvss]

You can't "restore" something with decreasing population and a faltering economy; its former (Soviet) territories have their own plans and strategies, things that are can hardly be changed (unless those countries are occupied by force and with a cost that Russia may not be able to pay, neither in economic term nor in human terms). Russia can no longer play with maps and "chessboards", it needs to play with intelligent economics, investments, human capital, development (all things that hardly thrive under harsh regimes: China can because of its utter sheer size and even so, still lags behind). Russia roars a lot (like a lot), like an old lion who depends on the old fear for the vultures to stay away, but it's an old, weak lion nevertheless. And it doesn't know how to raise a new lion cub.

[@lagautmd]

This. Russia's lashing out, IMO, has much more to do with Putin wanting to maintain power by distracting his population with perception of enemies all around.

[@vitaliysaffatel7881]

Return to this comment of yours in a few years and evaluate the difference between your words and the objective situation. Every month he becomes more ridiculous and incompetent. Russia grows stronger every day. It is growing in a strategic sense. Which is far more alarming to its rivals than simple economic growth.

[@stevencoardvenice]

@@lagautmd Lol it's not a perception. NATO is literally trying to encircle russia with forces and offensive weapons on their border, and Washington openly talks about their desire for regime change there. How can you be so thick? Russia is determined not to be destroyed like iraq, Libya, syria and all the other failed states ransacked and pillaged by the u.s. warmongers

[@Catwoman1464]

As Mitt Romney said in 2011, don't underestimate Russia

[@stevencoardvenice]

@@Catwoman1464 Good old Mittens

[@nooneinparticular7911]

Nice idea, but it is never going to happen. Eastern Europe has had enough of Russian domination, which is why they clamor to join collaborative geopolitical structures like the EU and NATO. If NATO hadn't existed, they would have invented it themselves. The world is over empires, they died in the 20th century. The world is happy to let Russia alone, but if it insists on recreating the Russian empire, it will feel increasing push-back.

[@andyhart358]

The Soviet Era is over, and the world is a different place from the one that allowed for the creation of the USSR. We are all better informed, better educated, better connected, ..........and better armed. Give it up Mr Putin, we are not wearing it, and all you will do is drive your country to ruin.

[@brianfeely9239]

Absolutely!!!!! Excellent comment

[@0hn0haha]

The age of empires is not over, it is on pause. We are living through a slow fall of western civilization and Pax-Americana, not due to external threat but internal division, and will collapse eventually, probably sooner than later, like the seemingly invincible and eternal Roman empire 1500 years ago. The people then didn't expect a collapse either. The Russians worry what new threats will emerge when the world goes to hell, and want to shore up their borders before then, it seems.

[@Bromoteknada]

The age of empires is over???? Slow down with Netflix, it kills your brain cells. The U.S. is an empire, a liberal empire and probably the most violent one in history. They have done way worse things from what Putin is doing today. I can't believe you ignorance, really. They use spheres of influence to hold their hegemony and when that doesn't work, they invade from far away and kill civilians. At least Russia is fighting on its boarders, which is a concept unknown to the U.S.

[@ImVeryOriginal]

@@Bromoteknada It would be great if all imperial superpowers fell, including Russia, the US, India and China. Just be normal countries ffs.

[@snekd4011]

Much like Muscovy, I am also expanding 1 Belgium a day.

[@uninstaller2860]

Good, good! Let the Belgian fries flow through you.

[@matthewtopping2061]

@@uninstaller2860 and the delicious ruddy dark beer

[@sownheard]

Lay low on the cupcakes 😂👍

[@ricojes]

wider than wide putin

[@kmandrews_]

COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA ??? RUSSIA 🇷🇺 MINIMUM WAGE IS $ 2 DOLLARS USA 🇺🇸 PER HOUR LIKE CHINA 🇨🇳 .

[@wogelson]

Nowadays: we never had better transportation Also nowadays: hills and deserts are political walls

[@lilestojkovicii6618]

Well try to cross Sahara with a tank and see if you will succeed...

[@j03man44]

Logistical walls. It's hard to maintain supply lines across rough terrain like deserts and it's easy to interrupt supply lines across hilly terrain that generates natural choke points.

[@2x2is22]

@@j03man44 Not just military lines of logistics, but civilian as well. In the American Northeast corridor there's a good chance you're burning fuel from the Mid East. Go to the American Midwest and odds are you're driving on gas from the Dakotas. The World's oceans and plains are far easier and cheaper to cross than the rugged mountains of Appalachia.

[@kiuk_kiks]

Plains also give a very good way of destroying armies and mechanised infantry too. Unless there’s a heavily forested plain that is.

[@frederickwood1384]

@@2x2is22 Excellent example. You used a real-life, current instance of the problem to demonstrate that it exists. It is possible to transport things and people over the mountains, hence the existence of a single country spanning both sides, but it is difficult and war will make it worse.

[@kyng386]

This video makes it look like NATO has some diehard plan to invade Russia and poor Russia has no other option than to conquer its neighbors. Because, you know, for self defence and totally not because of chauvinistic imperial ambitions. All this at a time most NATO countries have hard time keeping their defence spending at minimum level. Only exceptions being NATO countries worried about massing Russian military formations near their borders and aggressive rhetoric coming from Kremlin, Greece that is more issues with Turkey and USA that has declared China as main threat. And how is expanding their borders going to cut Russian defence expenditure? Soviet Unions defence spendigs took A MASSIVE bite from their economy, one of the reasons why it it collapsed. It is not cheap to control people and lands that really don't want to be part of you.

[@TheRezro]

This video is about Russian politic (what is BS) and he make it clear. But yes. Considering how many brainwashed Russian trolls there is under this video, your reaction is understandable.

[@rustyyb8450]

What would NATO gain by invading? All the Greens don't want the oil and even dislike the gas.

[@Will-tn8kq]

The point is that this is how the Russians see things. They've been invaded repeatedly for thousands of years. They naturally see things in these terms.

[@TheRezro]

@@Will-tn8kq And people on West understand that. Problem is that after Cold War there was believe of mutual understanding that West would not invade, as it could after collapse of USSR, but didn't. All melice of Kremlin was seen as theatre for internal public. But Russia refuse helping hand, taking own falling behind as hostility and was only leaking wounds until next bait. And when it happen, it force West to again see Putin as not worthy of they trust. That is all about it.

[@Russian_Bot_]

“When one faces a cornered bear, the essence of strategy is choosing what not to do” That’s a great quote.

[@ric1003]

If you reward a bully by giving them exactly what they want, don't be surprised when they come back for more. (by the way, that's just with reference to this invasion, it's not to say NATO countries aren't bullies themselves)

[@aryanyadav3690]

His prediction became truth 💯

[@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle]

If the bear comes up the tree after you it’s a black bear. If it knocks the tree down it’s Grizzly bear. If it stands up and picks you out of the tree it’s a Kodiak bear.

[@jimdake6632]

When a bear wants to attack you prepare by having sufficient ammo, and if it attacks, you kill it.

[@Gunitz89]

Just a correction, who forged those borders was the Russian Empire, not the Soviet Union

[@mihaicarp5625]

Yeah it was always the Russian strategy not the soviet's or Stalin's, he knows that becouse he seen the Russian Empire map in 17th, 18th and 19th century. It's a very important detail that I hope The Caspian Report will acknowledge.

[@moonshinei]

Not completely. The borders in the Ukraine and Belarus were fashioned out of the peace deals after the Second World War.

[@Paul-ft9dn]

the soviet union had to reconquer much of the territory between 1917 and 1945.

[@saviobiogen9914]

@@moonshinei Slightly different.. Sometimes Russian empire was even biger then USSR.

[@moonshinei]

@@saviobiogen9914 If we did that, we would have to include areas such as Karelia, Manchuria, Poland, and Northern areas of Persia. You'd be right in saying these are good territories to take, but all are difficult to defend and the negatives of fighting China, Iran, the EU, etc. largely outweigh those positives. This video details areas that aren't part of any larger empire or union, which is why they were included.

[@freeman8990]

"At a rate of one Belgium per year" Did the Germans invented this standard of measure?

[@starstencahl8985]

Ja

[@deisk2707]

Da

[@geeache1891]

If it were a Germany measure of rate of gain, it would funtion as a temporal rate: after 4-5 years the gain will prove to be reversed.

[@AppleSauceGamingChannel]

@@geeache1891 Minus entropy losses. Germany gets smaller every war it starts

[@tforaodg]

Germany uses Poland as UOM

[@j.w.b5048]

As a German, I can confirm this measuring unit.

[@mensrea1251]

Lol

[@linusfotograf]

Imagine a Russia friendly to its European neighbours, integrated in our economy and open to cultural exchange. Russia is a culturally rich, beautiful and vastly interesting country so it’s such a shame it acts like this.

[@Nome_utente_generico]

well, for them the approach of Nato in Ukraine is as if Russia wants military bases in Quebec. Do you imagine Usa histerya in such a situation?

[@linusfotograf]

@@Nome_utente_generico No, it’s like asking your abusive husband to stop hitting you or you’ll call the police.

[@Nome_utente_generico]

@@linusfotograf it's more complicated than this (as we know and this video explain)

[@linusfotograf]

@@Nome_utente_generico Well, all I said was to imagine a friendly Russia. It’s a shame.

[@bilbosumking]

Ooou yes. Russia is cultural rich: vodka, Kalashnikov, ushanka head bears, ballet and Natashas

[@myaseena]

"preferebly Polan"... damn, here we go again

[@KamikazeMedias]

We should buy some of these Ukrainian Nukes

[@10hawell]

@@KamikazeMedias Poland is planning its civil nuclear program for the second half of the next decade, it isn't even worth mentioning the military program time frame, it's a shame would be nice to have symmetry of nuclear states in Europe (US, UK, France | Poland, Ukraine, Russia).

[@solsunman383]

"What are we going to do tonight, Russia?" "The same thing we do every century, Germany, try to Partition Poland."

[@BlackShardStudio]

Poland has the most annoying neighbors

[@uroboros4260]

@@BlackShardStudio they are annoying only because Poland put itself in this position. You're naive if you think they all that white and fluffy.

[@BaljinderSingh-xy4ik]

But Russia don't have population and economy to support it's ambitions...

[@lagamiyaight7581]

@Dodo no) russia is a poor country

[@BaljinderSingh-xy4ik]

@Dodo I think in future Russia influence will decrease due to population decline and other Rising Powers

[@trumpfuckbidentrumpfuckbid4859]

Only india has, jai hind😎😎

[@BaljinderSingh-xy4ik]

@@trumpfuckbidentrumpfuckbid4859 China is in strong position to expand and they're trying their best at Indo-China border,SCS, Japanese island,Taiwan,HK etc...

[@disposabull]

When the USSR collapsed Russia basically took on all of the debts, they have now paid all those debts, have a huge surplus and sovereign wealth fund. The Russian economy is in much better shape than you think but Russia's people have low wages.

[@jeanforgeron2635]

Next video: Why Russia can't restore the Soviet borders

[@truthstar8754]

Still adding indoor plumbing to homes.

[@sababugs1125]

Nato . Also look at what chechnya did to the russian army unsupported and now imagine nearly 40x larger war with western support . It would destroy Russias economy

[@Chikanuk]

@@sababugs1125 Biggest arsenal of nuclear weapons. Also look at what taliban did to the combine NATO army unsupported =P

[@АлексейСвинцов-д5й]

@@sababugs1125 Russian military suffered from massive corruption, outdated equipment and terrible commandment. Chechen war was a partisan one, and all partisan wars are really difficult (Afghanistan, ISIS etc). More of that, the moral state of a soldier in Russian army back in the 90 was really bad, because of shit that was going on in the country. Russian army now is not what it used to be

[@anthonymanderson7671]

Because of Nato, the Baltics states might feel threatened as they did after they got their independence in 1918 .

[@Duncan23]

My man called it 7 months before it happened. Your insights into Geopolitics are so good shirvan (hope I spelt that right)

[@seanlovi8798]

Prophetic

[@b.benjamineriksson6030]

Putin has been very open about this for many years so he added nothing new.

[@AlternativaRed]

In Argentina we often talk about the economic potential of certain provinces we have using Belgiums as a measurement unit. For example the Entre Ríos, Misiones and Neuquén provinces have the potential of 1 Belgium each.

[@Bruther90]

Economy of Argentina is same size as Belgium.

[@casper_z1259]

@@Bruther90 He said potential. Argentines know they're bad with money.

[@interycreeper1152]

@@casper_z1259 Its like me and my grades

[@erwintweis]

Hahah, yes, he is so funny words. I believe him

[@MathwithMing]

Instead of costly territorial expansion, maybe Russia’s leadership can pursue an an alternative to improve its security: making the country more economically integrated with the rest of the world. It is easier said than done, but no other method has reduced animosity between nations of different cultures and religions than free, international trade has done.

[@ben5056]

that's how europe did it, very effective if done well

[@toshivibe]

The goal of the Russian government has nothing to do with country development and improving people's life, and have everything to do with protecting the corrupt system they created in order to make money from oil and gas for a small group of so called "elites", who are effectively the same ex communsts who ruled USSR. It's a simple logic of protecting and securing their assets. The government in Russia are not servants of the people, in fact, it's quite the opposite, and historically, it has always been like that. Alas.

[@pissyourselfandshitncoom2172]

In other words - be a good little slave to the US like the rest of the world, lest you end up like Iraq and North Korea. So how is the US the victim in all this again? Because to me it looks like NATO is invading Russia, not the other way around. Where are NATO troops right now? On Russia's border. Where are the Russian forces? NOT on America's borders.. So you see now who is the aggressor?

[@MathwithMing]

@@pissyourselfandshitncoom2172 Yes, security concerns on the Russian side are legitimate, considering Russia's centuries of experience of surviving invasions. But is restoring Russia's historical sphere of influence an effective, practical counter? My answer is no. Given their collective experience under the Iron Curtain, as well as the development gap between modern Russia (except Moscow and St.Petersburg) and EU/US, is it really surprising that eastern Europeans prefer closer relations with the latter rather than the former? By equating embracing the global economic competition and "being a slave to the US", you are essentially underestimating the ingenuity of the Russian population. Let me remind you this is a country that produced great science and art. Also, it's the homeland of Pavel Durov, the founder of VK and Telegram; Sergey Brin, one of the founders of Google; and many more. Those people could have stayed in Russia if the economic system there allows so.

[@pissyourselfandshitncoom2172]

@@MathwithMing and restoring the historical sphere of Russia is an absolute requirement for their survival. Did you even watch _"Understanding the Russian Mindset"_ from Shirvan?? Russia is flat, and must push to the mountains, if they wish to survive the endless invasions; French invasions in the 1800s, German invasions in the 1900s, and American invasions in the 2000s (coming soon™)

[@miroslavhoudek7085]

TL/DR: a country noone intends to attack is constantly trembling in fear and spends more effort on securing its borders than on wellbeing of its citizens while making enemies left and right.

[@ilgizgareev]

This is true. Unfortunately, many believe the authorities and seriously think that everyone wants to take our lands and there are only enemies around.

[@C4rnee]

Couldn't have said it better. No one wants to have anything to do with Russia

[@meepgm]

that could also be said about the united states military spending

[@TheRezro]

And by extend angering everyone and speeding up own downfall, as its own population start realizing that they life and wellbeing are sacrificed for worthless territorial gains and ego stunts.

[@TheRezro]

@@meepgm Yes. But world can't focus on that issue, when some stoners threat it with nukes.

[@fascinatinghistory5394]

Let's not forget that one important factor causing USSR's debacle at the early stage of the German invasion in the summer of 1941 was Stalin. He purged hundreds of experienced and progressive generals in the 30s, hugely weakening the army. He created for himself an unassailable position at the pinnacle of an autocratic state. As he clung to his conviction that Hitler would not risk a second front by attacking the Soviet Union, in spite of all the detailed, comprehensive intelligence of an impending German attack he had received since July 1940, the Soviet Military's effort to enhance the USSR's defense capabilities had been limited. In February 1941, the Soviet Defense Commissariat issued a directive naming Germany as the probable enemy and instructed the frontier regions to make appropriate preparations. But Stalin replaced the Chief of Staff who issued the directive, and the new one did little to follow up the order. German reconnaissance flights were frequently sighted over the Baltic States (almost a daily occurrence) by early March 1941. Admiral Kuznetsov gave the Baltic Fleet permission to open interdictory fire without warning. Kuznetsov was soon summoned to the Kremlin. He was reprimanded by Stalin in person and was ordered to revoke his order. About a week before the German attack, the commander in Kiev, convinced that war was coming, sent Stalin a personal letter asking permission to evacuate 300,000 civilians from the frontier regions, to prepare defense works and set up antitank barriers. The reply he got was: This would be a provocative act. Do not move. When the Nazi attack began on 22 June 1941, Stalin was reduced to a state of nervous collapse. He locked himself up in his room, unable or unwilling to participate in state affairs. No one in the Kremlin dared to make any decision and the people were left in a fog without leadership. Only on July 3rd did Stalin finally speak to the country. By then the German army had invaded Soviet Moldavia, captured Minsk, and was approaching Kiev. The buffer states were little more than a sacrifice to save Russia from a total defeat brought by its dictator's colossal error of judgement.

[@omarsantillan5880]

Russia has ambitious plans but also has a very limited time frame of action, due to its falling demography and a world moving away of oil and coal you can expect a more aggressive russia in this decade, to that you have to add up the posibility of china backstabing russia in one point beyond 2030

[@User-jr7vf]

What powerful countries do you think are likely to engage in a major war in this decade? I would not bet China, America or Iran, but Russia might do it.

[@tobiasL1991]

I'd argue against that case. Climate change has far too much potential in it for Russia to gabble too much now. The nothern sea route can mean incredible opportunities, increased trade and easier time exporting it's raw resources. To the thawing of Siberia turning it into a vast fertile land. The growth potential in Russia's Siberia is vast and climate change is not going away. Moreover oil and gas aren't going away just yet and their other natural resources are still high in demand.

[@EduardoBicelisGarcia]

who knows if oil's back in a blink of an eye due to renewables unaffordability... as unexpected as it might be!

[@zhugeliang3905]

What makes you think China will backstab Russia beyond 2030? Reasons? We've had our border issues, but that was settled and we both moved on to fry bigger fish. In addition, we are now de facto allies. Perhaps you want to sow discord amount us? If so, you've failed miserably before you even start.

[@ozvulcan]

@@zhugeliang3905 You're not fooling anyone, the Sino-Russian alliance is nothing more than a document on paper. Russia and China are geopolitical rivals. Beijing has been encroaching on Russia's eastern territories for decades, pushing hundreds of thousands of Han Chinese migrants into the region each year. It's obvious China is going to make a grab at Eastern Russia in the next few decades which is why they are building up a 5th column in the region. China is also making a play to pull Central Asia under it's control, something that Russia will not tolerate.

[@tahsindindogru5283]

I mean fuck me man, I've learned so much about well, everything that is going on around the world by you it's astounding to say the least. You are a great channel and I hope you become bigger an even better at soon as possible. Cheers mate.

[@phili6588]

Fun fact: Putin wears USSR pajamas to bed every night.

[@justfrank5661]

I’m trying to imagine that!!! lol 😆 Hammer and sickle and all

[@arolemaprarath3248]

link for evidence?

[@tomnguyen4706]

it’s a joke

[@drones7838]

That’s funny

[@sl4613]

same

[@friendofcoal]

Let's get one thing straight here: Countries aren't flocking into Russia's arms to be protected against NATO. Somehow Putin is unable to wrap his head around this.

[@JD96893]

I think you make a great point here. The conflict with russia and nato is by no means onesided, but its mostly instigated by Putin. I think many russians still have a cold war era mentality, that Americans only want to see russia burn and western europe is ready help. The problem is that relations are pretty far gone. I doubt even if Putin were to give a less aggressive stance, stop invading small countries, and open up to more forign cooperation, would be waiting over a decade for any real change. Meanwhile the only country that actually wants to f over russia/is, along with anyone and anything not chinese, is rising in power and quickly surpassing russia. With the amount of russian technology China has stolen or coppied youd think Putin would be brutal towards them. It amazes me how many things china steals, copies, and them resells. I think Putin is trying find enemies where there isnt any. If you treat someone like they want to hurt you when they obviously wont, relation are obviously going to be very strained. That person might even start thinking the same of you. If putin wants to avoid conflict amd protect russian interests, maybe he should focus on making friends instead of enemies! Or make forign powers interested in protecting russian interests.

[@thomasridley8675]

Well, both Russia and China are making the same mistake. Making your neighbors nervous. Countries that had sat on the fence are making their choice.

[@derbaeumaed8158]

sorry, but you are getting nothing straight here, l'm afraid. NATO is instigating old russian fears by threatening the russian borders, just like Hitler and Napoleon previously did years ago. This key fact constantly goes past your lot's analysis and you keep resorting to idealism, ideology and anglosphere exceptionalism. Showing a lack of emphaty and undestanding of sensitivities, while by the way refusing to use diplomacy in order to solve these issues while instead thrying to shove your own point of view, considered superior, down other people's throats.

[@derbaeumaed8158]

@@thomasridley8675 I don't remember Russia having done anything about the Baltics entering NATO, because they where not considered as a threat to it's own country security, but instead a recognition of baltic soveregnity after the soviet years. As you can see the rigid ideological point ot view is not in Moscow or in Putin's head, unfortunately.

[@thomasridley8675]

@@derbaeumaed8158 You do know that nobody wants to invade Russia ? It's all just propaganda. Going back 30 yrs isn't possible. No matter how much Putin wants it. The world has changed too much. It's not like many countries are asking to join the Russian alliance. And invading Ukraine could backfire if Putin's goal is to stop NATO expansion.

[@uninstaller2860]

The inheritance of the tsarist Russia was expansions of buffers. When new land was conquered, that land needed a buffer for its protection. Russia simply grew too big. Seeing the protectable area of former USSR in central asia, begs the question, why did they go further? Why invade Afghanistan?

[@Zeyede_Seyum]

*They should have settled more in Kazakhstan and Baltic states*

[@uninstaller2860]

@@Zeyede_Seyum The Russians? Sure, I'm all for diversity. On that point Stalin did a huge mistake to move the Volga Germans to Kazakhstan. They were loyal to the cause, not to Germany. The same thing with Russian speaking populations outside of Russia, they are human beings that won't stand to be puppets for long. You can fool some people sometimes, but you can not fool all the people all the time.

[@haraldhimmel5687]

Initially Afghanistan was led by a fellow socialist regime which then was supported when the Islamists started overthrowing them, also thanks to the CIA which armed the Mujahedin prior to that. The USSR effectively got set up and did let provoke themselves into that war. This is supported by the memoirs of Robert Gates. The Soviets were in fact correct when stating that they were merely intervening to combat US interventionism in Afghanistan. Googling "The Brzezinski Interview with Le Nouvel Observateur (1998)" gives more details on this.

[@idayanda4062]

The main goal of afghan invasion is not for buffer, they already have natural barrier in central asia. The invasion of aghan is to expand influence because by that time they no longer "seeking buffer zone" they want to destroy america and spread communism to the entire world

[@davidtogi5878]

Also mimicking what Kushan empire did back then, connecting them to india ocean. Means their plan was pakistan after afghanistan. A bold move that US tried to prevent by any cost which goes by supporting taliban. 😉

[@fips711]

So Russia has to control the European plain until the Pyrenes to feel safe? Then they will become a peaceful and huggable nation? This is such nonsense, I don't understand why people keep repeating it uncritically.

[@fips711]

@Антон Еремин And why did all these countries want to join NATO? For protection from Russia. See how it went for Georgia and Ukraine, who didn't get into NATO.

[@fips711]

@Антон Еремин Russia only withdrew from from Eastern Europe because that was a condition to get western aid. They fought it as hard as they could. Anyway I'm just happy my country is in NATO so 'we' can't start conflicts and Russia can't come to 'peacefully' annex parts of it.

[@dukedematteo1995]

The Germans never got to the steppe in WW1...they never got anywhere near the Volga. 1942, Yes.

[@tritium1998]

The Germans made it as far as Rostov-on-Don in WW1, east of Ukraine.

[@dukedematteo1995]

@@tritium1998 I think that was after Trotsky bailed from the talks then the German Army just said OK....and walked a couple hundred miles until Lenin gave them Brest Livotsk.

[@threepo9692]

Volgograd it is Stalingrad, in that city Stalin defeated the white collaborationists.

[@jbm0866]

I hear a lot of "protection" and "defense" in this explanation, but I've got to ask..exactly who or what is threatening to invade Russia? No, really..I'd like to know what they're protecting themselves from..because other than Western Europe (who could only attack through NATO, and that organization barely has defensive capability as it is) or China (who's shared border Russia doesnt seem to be concerned about) where is the threat coming from? It's about power and influence, nothing more and nothing less.

[@neilabernath5862]

I like your analysis. I acknowledge world wars in the 20th century involved defending territory, but the world has changed. Wealth in the future will not be dependent on accumulation of territory. Wars for territory is a thing of the past. NATO has no incentive to attack Russia.

[@jbm0866]

@@neilabernath5862 Zero incentive and Putin is a smart man, he knows this. Nonetheless he will persuade a lot of people this is a "defensive" move, and that includes many of his own people with the help of state owned media. (Much like our own that may as well be state owned when their chosen party is in office)

[@jbm0866]

@@neilabernath5862 Territory can certainly still be involved in the 21st century, especially when it's a strategic location (Crimea) or contains valuable natural resources. (Ukraine in general) What we're seeing today is the culmination of those two things combined with the Kremlin's fear of yet another former Soviet satellite joining NATO.

[@thetruereality2]

Threat is a word used as an excuse to expand

[@malachaiuys711]

*In MOTHER RUSSIA back isn't against wall - wall is against back*

[@navajyotichetia3211]

Global deforestation is about one Nepal a year, global temperature rise shall be one Saudi arabia per sixhundred years, climate refugees shall be one Bangladesh a year, global hunger is one sommalia a year

[@mohanaryal677]

Source for your facts?

[@davidbilla8063]

@@mohanaryal677 Trust me bruhh

[@zaktabyte]

@@davidbilla8063 sounds legit

[@ravinchowdhury5215]

Finally, units that the Russian and the Americans can both agree on.

[@bezahltersystemtroll5055]

;-;

[@Ereshkigal616]

I enjoy the very pragmatic, and to-the point-strategy discussions in this. By speaking the truth of the matter, clarity of meaning, and thereby an easier uptake of understanding makes this one of the best geopolitical overview videos i've seen in some time.

[@Muexxxor]

U will never knew the truth. Thats fact!!

[@alxn806]

This aged surprisingly well

[@Rainlars1031]

LMFAO

[@WealthAndMoney]

The single greatest explanation of Russian defense doctrine I've seen around! Confratulations! Great work!

[@TheRezro]

Yup. That was truly museum experience.

[@rustyyb8450]

Unfortunately the doctrine influences where to invest. All of the former Soviet States that were buffer zones for Moscow were investment free unless they had a mineral wealth. I remember stories from Iowa farmers who went to Bulgaria after the Soviet System dissolved. Those farmers were amazed that the Bulgarians were so far behind and lacked so much modern equipment.

[@TheRezro]

@@rustyyb8450 It is part of the Russia Imperialistic doctrine. They deliberately drain those regions through uneven trade deals and corruption, so they neither could threat Russia itself or provide supply to marching armies of the enemy. That is also source of conflict on Ukraine. Due to historical independence of Kiev Russia. Attempt to establish puppet ruler failed and because Ukrainians kept mobility in Europe, they start realizing harm caused to them by Moscow. Especially as Poland which was poorer prior to collapse of USSR, become way richer then them.

[@DarkEagle99]

I must say I reacted a bit on the wording about NATOS "push eastwards" in "russias lost eastern assets". Well most of these "eastern european assets" used to be independent or belonged to someone else untill the end of WW2, when they got occupied by the Soviet union (not Russia) and untill its collapse. So is it actually fair to say NATO is pushing eastwards? Or is it countries who gained their independence again after Soviets fall protecting themselves from Russian (not Soviet) westwards agressive expension?

[@rossmum]

A number of them had been part of the Russian Empire before the Revolution, and mostly had been independent for about 20-30 years at the time, although in many cases they'd had moments of independence stretching back between centuries of domination by other European powers. It's been very back and forth in Eastern Europe for a very long time. There's also the Russians' perception to consider - that even when the USSR was clearly coming apart at the seams, NATO not only continued to exist but also continued working to surround them, and the US immediately began meddling intensely in their internal affairs by supporting Yeltsin, who then pushed insane market reforms on them that caused a decade of absolute misery. When you look at Russian history, even the past ~120 years of it, you start to understand why things are the way they are. I very much doubt any other country would be very understanding or friendly in their situation, either - but of course, that's hardly a comfort to their neighbours, many of whom haven't had much better.

[@saviobiogen9914]

USA is bringing military infrastructure eastward, on Russian borsers. That is agression against Russia. And if this litle countries want to let USA use them as pions against Russia. They should remember what is the destiny of pions in „chess game".

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@saviobiogen9914 US did not permanently move military infrastructure on Russia's borders until 2014. This is a reaction against Russian aggression, asked for and flat-out demanded by those "little countries" in honor of the defensive alliance. And to be frank; their fate as "pions" against Russia is still a far preferable fate than being subjugated by it.

[@GenocideWesterners]

All the former SSRs were part of Russia except for a few central Asian territories for centuries. Maybe you have confused them for Warsaw Pact members who were forcefully occupied by the USSR after ww2.

[@saviobiogen9914]

@@GenocideWesterners That is true, but also Warsav pact members were not realy occupied. They were more like independent, but vasal, pupet states of USSR. Just like USA today has many, many vasal, pupet states.

[@rijutruthwarrior1128]

Shirvan loved that last comment. "Knowing a country's geography is knowing countries foreign policy."

[@mensrea1251]

Napoleon I think.

[@alexa.9446]

Excellent work here and how incredibly prescient.

[@madjack443]

To know a nation's geography is to know its foreign policy.

[@VforArt]

in short - russia feels so unsecure that very existence of any neighbours is untolerable, never ending expansionism threatens everyone arround while offering no sensible alternative... yet they wonder why everyone turns their back thats why russias only tool is violence or threats of using it russia, its XXI centruy, your neighbouring societies have a right to their opinion, aspirations and self determination

[@bagamax]

Russia feels so unsercure because every century some european dictator sends a huge army towards us. We kinda tired of big losses that and have to keep prepeared.

[@VforArt]

@@bagamax wondering where in all of this you lost the fact that its russia that is always ruled by a dictator and operates internationally by destabilizing neighbouring countries as much as possible to weaken them russia should be a stabilizing force, but its not

[@wallachia4797]

@@bagamax Except that Russians are Europeans and have been ruled by dictators ever since their inception sending armies to gobble up smaller countries.

[@bunnyben5607]

@@bagamax Eh, Russia has only ever been an afterthought of European continental conquest. Winter always ensured that most of your land was easily defensible, ironically the aspect which makes it so defensible also means it's pretty much useless (save for extracting resources) boreal forest with little to offer. Europe is extremely comfortable with its position as it stands, believe it or not, as players on the world stage, not as local military conquerors. Allying with the US obviously gave them a massive edge which still snowballs to this day as well. For many reasons Europe just doesn't care anymore. Russia can barricade itself, sure, but ultimately any expending unnecessary resources would be to their own detriment. Now if it's to deal with Asia I can see that.

[@ish8891]

@@VforArt same can be said about America- I.e. both are scumbags

[@j.obrien4990]

Moscow may want to think about developing good relations with its neighbors. Naaa...

[@Argentvs]

CIA joined the chat: Psss: oposition, wanna some guns and money to revolt?. Russians are scary. Psss: neo nazis, wanna some money and guns?. White House joined the chat: Psss: hey Russian neighbors I have more expensive stuff to sell you than that cheap Russian resources. It would be a shame to not buy me, here some sanctions so you get whose the boss.

[@SangiinKherem]

Russia wants good relations with the west, they want to be our trade partners after all, there's just countries such as the USA which can't stand the sight of countries like Germany importing Gas, oil and metals Form Russia, they will keep sabotaging the Russo-European relationship at all cost, after all if the Europeans start realizing Russia isn't a threat they will question why the U.S. Has bases in their countries...

[@dirremoire]

It's just the opposite. A prosperous Russia ,well integrated into the global economy is the last thing the West wants. The US and Europe are determined to keep NATO going at all costs.

[@ianmackenzie686]

@@SangiinKherem Invading Ukraine under the auspices of "separatists" is the reality check against "not a treat."

[@SangiinKherem]

@@ianmackenzie686 Firstly Russia did not invade the Ukraine if that were the case there would be all out war between those countries and Ukraine would have been conquered within a few days... Secondly the country being threatened is Russia, they are the ones who have NATO on their border an alliance whose combined defence spending shadows Russias GDP, an alliance which threatens Russias heartland where 70% of its population live which is just a massive undefendable plain, tell me why do you think that Russia wants to invade eastern Europe? Do you think they don't have enough space to live? Do you think there isn't enough food? Does Russia need more resources?

[@JK-gu3tl]

Everybody dreams of having an empire, but that is not cheap.

[@abaddon6579]

NATO is Russia biggest rival... Of course they don't want to cede influence in Ukraine to their enemies, it all makes sense to me now, it weakenes Russia a lot.

[@alexanderdesturion4346]

"The soviets shaped their borders with diligence" - what did they shape, if they just inherited all those lands from the Empire?

[@yamahaftwGAMING]

To be fair, they sliced and diced the former Emirates in Central Asia to make them codependent

[@diogomm710]

You are mistaken, sir. The borders are familiar, because the 'geo' in geopolitcs is very important. For the most part, russia as a country was a dissoluted zombie by 1918-1920. Everyone and their distant cousins went independent, and the soviet union had to basically reconquer/conquer everything they understood they needed

[@sorrybro4890]

Actually the soviets reconquered all these lands

[@ravinchowdhury5215]

@@diogomm710 this is correct. Even Ukraine and Belarus were militarily independent (though unrecognised) and the soviets had to basically redo a few centuries’ worth of conquest (albeit far less challenging)

[@alexanderdesturion4346]

@@diogomm710 It's called civil war, and the strongest faction wins. All the territory that Soviet Union constituted was former imperial Territory, nothing more, at least until ww2. And if you start considering what territories the Soviets actually "shaped", the Brest Litovsk treaty shows clearly that geopolitics mattered little for them. It is historical accident that they didn't have to obey that treaty and didn't get limited to the rsfsr borders early on.

[@prodotpuypuysworld2490]

Quality content that never teach in school. We need to understand history to know the motivs of Russia.

[@ThePilot3332]

There is no realistic way for Russia to “take back” the Baltic states. Or anyone else for that matter. Not because they can’t, but because they don’t want to. I doubt Russia would even try to reintegrate Belarus if Lukanhesko’s regime collapsed, even if their new government aligned with the west.

[@dannylee1523]

While they would likely not directly annex or integrate these countries they would love to install puppet governments or simply bring them into their sphere of influence.

[@uhforja]

In Estonia, they have a Russian-speaking majority in the east (Narva), but I believe those people are better off with freedom of movement across EU borders so I don't see many wanting to join Russia again. It worked in Ukraine and Georgia because they weren't part of EU or NATO but it won't work there.

[@shaftoe195]

The one sane comment...

[@loko450]

In Russia, as many as I know myself, they do not want to join us, they spend money on them, our money. The people are against because they are fed at our expense

[@loko450]

@@dannylee1523 No, Russia does not want anything, why do we need the Baltics, I live in a region the size of 50 Baltic states, we just need peaceful neighbors. If someone comes to power who carries a threat and hatred, we begin to act, Ukraine, for example, for 5 years and it will fall apart and I will ask the east to go to Russia, historically the Russians will borrow it, the rest will be taken away by Hungary and Poland

[@foxdavani4091]

This was a very interesting video. I remember as a child, my mom taught me some of the stuff but the detail this video went into was far beyond what I have learned. This was amazing

[@shorewall]

Russia wants people to focus on the times people "invaded" their country, as if other countries are never invaded in war. Russia never talks about the other countries they have invaded and colonized through its history. Russia and USA both expanded from Sea to shining Sea, but USA stopped there. We aren't trying to conquer Mexico or Canada for "security" reasons. NATO was created to oppose the USSR's expansionist tendencies. It isn't a threat to Russia, but it remains a threat to Russia's expansionist policies. Because NATO is a defensive alliance that treats an attack on one as an attack on all, including the USA. Therefore Russia is upset that they can't throw their weight around in their backyard. Which is also the reason why all of Russia's neighbors want to join NATO. Ukraine is in the same position as Taiwan, in fear of its large powerful neighbor that wants to conquer it.

[@dreamer2260]

Exactly.

[@benismann]

Literally no one in americas can be a threat to the US, considering that ofc US didn't invade Mexico or Canada

[@richardfecteau4490]

The US did NOT stop at Sea to shining Sea. It's de facto territories are all over the globe. It is the largest empire the world has ever seen, by far.

[@irdorath356]

Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Phillipines. Not to mention their forces all over the globe.

[@irmadelapaz8715]

@@irdorath356 US is still invading other countries.

[@paulcoffey359]

The problem with Russia's attitude and now behavior in Ukraine, is that they are going to discover, the hard way, that they don't call the shots anymore.The U.S. and NATO 'haven't been listening to Russia' because they don't really care about Russia, because they can see that it's got no real capacity to maintain or sustain a large conflict. It's got a gross GNP more akin to Australia.

[@ararune3734]

Both Russia and America are waning. It's clearly visible in American domestic and foreign policies they're losing grip. Russia might collapse, NATO will fade into obscurity, EU is about to be building its' own army because it doesn't want to depend on either's whim anymore. Look out for China, they're playing the long game.

[@thefoxyferret]

Great and insightful video that shines a light on the motivation behind the current war in Ukraine. Thanks!

[@frankborsboom5218]

needed this, Thanks! Helps me a bit to make sense of yesterday and today.

[@gunjanjuyal7693]

Loved this analysis! Had hours worth of key takeaways, presented so concisely. Thank you, and I'm always looking forward to your next vids :)

[@phoebehill953]

It’s great to have these to go back to while trying to figure out what is going on right now in Ukraine.

[@Faisalkhan-qv5ry]

On a live TV, when a kid asked Putin about Russia's extend or where does Russia end ? Putin replied : "NOWHERE" 😎

[@limenciel6081]

You didn't get this joke. The kid asked: "Where does the border of Russia end?" And Putin joked that "the border of Russia does not end anywhere" (it closes by itself). An old joke. But in every joke there is a part of a joke, everything else is true. This ambiguity of the answer was basically a main part of the joke.

[@user-ms4cm4qf5j]

@@limenciel6081 what?

[@Jessntime]

“To know a countries geography is to know a countries foreign policy.” Very profound and wise words.

[@mensrea1251]

Napoleon, I think.

[@CStone-xn4oy]

I like the idea of using Belgium as a unit of measure for territorial expansion as in "expanded at a rate of 1 Belgium per year."

[@andrejbogovic2047]

This didn't age well

[@baddolphin1423]

Eurasian empires fall from within. Well... all great empires fall from within eventually, but this is particularly true for the steppe empires. What's special this time is that Russia has nukes :D...

[@nunyabiznes33]

We're seeing it happen to America now with their own "cultural revolution". But nuke-owning countries collapsing is never good news.

[@baddolphin1423]

@Google minus True. But I would argue that it never truly collapsed. It shrunk to Russia...

[@executivelifehacks6747]

Most insightful and topical video on youtube.

[@pseudonymous1382]

What this video didn't address is why non-alignment or de-escalation is unpalatable for Russia. I simply do not understand why there is a fear of invasion when there is zero political will anywhere in Western Europe to invade Russia. In fact, most seem purely interested in maintaining a military for defensive purposes, rather than fielding an offensive military, and many now without a draft system have had faltering military recruitment. The only counter I can imagine would be to bring up the NATO involvement in the Yugoslav Civil War. Still, that was a very different situation from Ukraine after the Euromaidan protests and crisis. It would be one thing if NATO had stuck around in former Yugoslavia and was there purely offensively, but they ostensibly stabilized the region. Russia's involvement in Ukraine has done anything but stabilize the region because Russia is clearly not a neutral party and has a vested interest in absorbing Ukraine so they have a foothold in the Black Sea for a warm water naval port.

[@valdiskazaks4709]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnaZo4ain7mqmrc He explained it here long time ago.

[@johnny_eth]

Bringing up NATO in the Yugoslav war is basically expecting the reader to be ignorant of what happened. There were the UN safe zones in Bosnia that NATO was tasked to protect, and there was the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo by Milosevic that NATO stopped. Everything else was a civil war.

[@srakadrisky]

I love how u used a protest in slovenia for a picture on russia. Truly well done :D

[@therealdave06]

2:06 Russia borders 16 states, 12 of which were part of the Soviet Union? I don't think Abkhazia and South Ossetia should count here.

[@sirsurnamethefirstofhisnam7986]

Norway Finland China Mongolia and North Korea that’s five already

[@emilv.3693]

Aren't those two just Russia

[@5Penkets]

@@emilv.3693 they’re a part of Sakartvelo

[@jskratnyarlathotep8411]

@@emilv.3693 those are just Georgian variant of DNR and LNR

[@shreyandattagupta5605]

China Mongolia NK Finland

[@davidh9585]

I just found your channel, obviously, due to recent events. Excellent insights on the situation without all the current politics coloring your presentation. Thank you in arrears!

[@dedvzer]

Owns 11% of earth, largest country in the world: "No really we need these other 14-20 countries, this is undefendable!"

[@evankurniawan1311]

It is tough. Without its former border, you have direct road to Moscow. Without Without a strong defensive natural terrain, powerful army will have the advantages. There is a reason why modern Poland, after losing most of their defensive terrain, they always very easily invaded

[@user-wx4nv8xr3d]

either you didn't watch the video or just plain dumb

[@saviobiogen9914]

This report is stupid because it is not conected to 21st century. Today Russia has nukes, intercontinental missiles, hipersonic missiles. Russia does not need more teritories or mountines to defend itself.

[@svampen7782]

Russia: Feels as it has its back against the wall Also Russia: By far the largest country in the world both in Europe and Asia

[@marko1263]

You didn't get anything from the vid lol.

[@svampen7782]

@@marko1263 r/woosh

[@JavierSanchez-zj6su]

@@svampen7782 this is not reddit my guy

[@svampen7782]

@@JavierSanchez-zj6su not even for the meme. ur a fkn boomer.

[@JavierSanchez-zj6su]

@@svampen7782 1. i’m sixteen 2. The meme is dead 3. The meme was never funny to begin with

[@thewandererguitar]

This video aged well, sadly.

[@MusicalMercenary]

Yup, CaspianReport nailed it again. o7 mate, keep up the great work.

[@Bhob138]

So If Italy decides to regain the Roman borders this should be okay, right?

[@djs5502]

Israel did it why not

[@kevinreyes6633]

Shit why not?

[@dotValkyrie]

Now this would make many people happy

[@siciidxuseensucuudi9750]

Eid mubaarak #caspian reporters and subscribers

[@sulthanryanalfandralatif603]

Happy adha mubaarak my friend

[@Prosper_Dean]

Same to you, from Idaho USA :D

[@yr.5511]

Eid mubaarak

[@hamzahammami22]

@eLKy 15 it's a holiday for Muslims

[@michaelnewman1813]

Shirvan is the master of classically wise, war strategy quotes.

[@pugnatorr]

it seems you got as true 100% what he said

[@phoule76]

It's pleasant when he actually mentions the Caspian Sea in a Caspian Report.

[@andrewstanley7300]

The thing is they don't have the economy to support that so history will repeat itself and we will have weak Russia once again

[@evgeniam685]

People only think about money. Money money. What material primitive world we live in. One plandemia, and all this economy is going down. Russia will be spiritual leader of World. As its more important than some paper as our world need healing, deepness and strength and not more greed for objects and consuming. Watch Truman show collapsing.

[@andrewstanley7300]

@@evgeniam685 in terms of the world money is the most important thing, great Russia can be spiritual and shit but it still can't pay for that hospital or the army

[@evgeniam685]

@@andrewstanley7300 what hospital and army? What are you talking about))) her do you even get info, from mainstream media or some propaganda channels?

[@andrewstanley7300]

@@evgeniam685 I'm sorry what do you not believe hospitals exist?

[@ArtVandelay00]

Not only economy the Russian population are in decline

[@MurphyAKA]

clarification of a prev comment, can we get a video of the former soviet republics attitudes towards russia?

[@dwaybruss]

Friendly: Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Neutral: Azerbaijan, Moldova Hostile: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Georgia

[@uncle_fword]

@@dwaybruss Poland never was a part of USSR

[@dwaybruss]

@@uncle_fword that's true

[@ClearsightAltAccount]

@@uncle_fword Technically it was, the ussr invaded east poland bavk in 1939

[@uncle_fword]

@@ClearsightAltAccount And? This makes it automatically a Soviet Republic? USSR invaded a lot of countries including Germany. Not all of them became a part of USSR. US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, so Afghanistan is a part of US since then?

[@marinodezelak1180]

"Why Russia wants to restore the Soviet borders"... Does it?..

[@imrekalman9044]

Some of them, that were Russian lands for centuries, filled with Russians, like Belarus and Ukraine, perhaps. I doubt they give a damn about the Baltic triplet, as long as they don't allow NATO to deploy troops (and nukes) on their territories. Oh, they did. Sucks to live there.

[@Gaming_Burnout]

We are in the strangest situation ever: people want USSR back, but the government is conducting active anti-Soviet propaganda, despite the fact that it is economically beneficial. Reason is that you can't simply restore Soviet borders by force without changing the economic system. Otherwise, we will create the Russian Reich, not the USSR. And such a state can't be stable, because there were much fewer Russians in the USSR compared to other nations.Even within themselves, the Russians consist of a group of small nations, so it will be almost impossible to organize an discrimination on a national / racial basis. Problem of the Putin government is that restoration of the union will mean a Gulag for all its members. and also the abolition of such things private ownership of the means of production, with some exceptions for small businesses and workers cooperatives. Since NATO exists, basis for unification should be socialism, not weapons. In short, we must repeat the events of 1917. At least this time there will be no civil war: there are no more monarchists, nationalists or liberals in Russia to form a white army.

[@sakils2]

@@imrekalman9044 Nukes deployed in the Baltics? LMAO What a 'tard comment.

[@marinodezelak1180]

@@Gaming_Burnout i'm guessing the people wanting to restore the Soviet union are mouthbreathing troglodytes incapable of rational thought.

[@gofar5185]

@@marinodezelak1180 they dont want military conflicts...

[@goodlifegreenscapesbrecken5928]

Phenomenal report, Shirvan!

[@briangasser973]

The threat to Russia is its economy. In the time where growth depends on tech and service industries, Russia is controled by oligarchs and oil. The US has Google, FB, AMZN, MS, global banks and drug companies. The Russian economy looks little changed since 1990. The threat to Russia is not foreign armies. South Korea, Singapore, and Chile have grown in global influence and wealth for their people. Russia in 50 years will be stagnant with little change conpared to today.

[@Anonymous-qj3sf]

Lol why are you saying something you don't know? The state budget of Russia from the 90s to today until 2010 has increased 40 times, and GDP has increased 12 times. And by the way, Russia is one of the few countries independent in terms of information from the United States. In Russia (also in the CIS countries) there are Yandex (analogous to Google) and VKontakte (analogous to Facebook) which are used by the entire population

[@TheRezro]

@@Anonymous-qj3sf Russian economy was literally disintegrated as result of they Soviet politic. Current Russian economic growth is only slow catching up toward rest of the world, when Putin people rob everyone. Russian economy is smaller then of Italy! Sadly Putin solution to this problem is gong back to Soviet economy. What already backfire. Sadly Trolls like you only help with that.

[@Tesswrench111]

The soviet borders never went away, they're just part of different countries now!

[@starestairs5090]

And these countries are independent So respect self determination

[@darkmemes953]

@@starestairs5090 But under Russian influence, except for the Baltics states.

[@righthandstep5]

@@darkmemes953 for now, but Belarus is breaking fast and ukraine WILL JOIN NATO AND THE EU. RUSSIA will be waving a white flag soon enough no later than 2040.

[@darkmemes953]

@@righthandstep5 Nah I don't think so, unless dictator Alexander Lukashenko resigns, he will be a puppet to Russia, and Putin will try hard to maintain the status quo and help Lukashenko to maintain his position.

[@darkmemes953]

@@righthandstep5 Same with Ukraine, Russia will try everything to keep Ukraine away from joining NATO, even if it has to invade Ukraine.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

Amazing how such an enormous country with incredible resources is as inept as it is economically.

[@briansimmons8643]

Its trying to recover from 8 0 years of Communsm and was well on its way until the sanct1ons were imposed a few years ago. The "w e s t" couldn't allow a f r e e and i n d e p e n d n t minded R u s s i a outside of "w e s t e r n" contrl.

[@briansimmons8643]

Russ ia doesn't want to expand before maybe a few special cases along its borders. This is simply a f a l s e n arrat1ve that is repeated by ignorant people. Does it want to have influence in the former Sov1et Republ1cs, yes. Does it want a buffer around its borders, yes. Does it want a b l o c k to counter the "w e s t" that has exprssed constant unprovoked host1ilty to it for 30 years, yes. It doesn't want to take over its neighbors.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

@@briansimmons8643 Fair point.

[@ShabbahCore]

@@briansimmons8643 why do you type key words in these specific covering up type of ways, is there some system scanning for these types of conversation?

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@briansimmons8643 Sanctions were kinda deserved when Russia invaded a neutral democracy for shits and giggles.

[@icestationzebra8636]

This is an excellent analysis! Spot on!

[@mattsavigny6084]

The world: *exist* Russia: I feel threatened. I must EXPAND!

[@charles8769]

Makes sense though. The US is obviously not satisfied until it dominates the world. I mean, every other country that tried to willingly side with the soviets were invaded. The US put nukes right next to the soviets, and when they tried to return the favor we threatened Armageddon. We are the bad guys.

[@shorewall]

@@charles8769 Maybe you, but not me. :D

[@NucleaRaptor]

I'M EXPOOOOOOOOOOOMING

[@livics610]

I don't even think they feel threatened, they just wanna expend, that's all. They blatantly lie. They should first provide for the poor population 1st, but with right-wingers that want an empire back, what can one expect? 🙄

[@kaaseter16]

@@livics610 It has nothing to do with left and ring wing. The communist were extremely left wing and yet they still wanted to expand their influence and border.

[@viktorianas]

Since the creation of nuclear weapons any major war is pretty much impossible, so Russians can relax. If it happens, territorial disputes will be the least of the worries for humanity.

[@kasadam85]

Russia doesn't have enough nukes to obliterate all her enemies at once. A single nuclear attack would turn all the arrows to herself and her enemies would definitely come on top with less casualties.

[@DieselpunkMachine]

@@kasadam85 hence the main question of today politics, who will strike first - will be eaten first.

[@_robustus_]

What is to stop Russia from going broke again, repeating the Soviet collapse?

[@TP-ie3hj]

The fact that they probably do not see things nor conduct foreign policy in the same way that the you-tube video and its creator describes it?? I think he makes some good points and insights but misses the mark when it comes to Russia wanting to? having the ability to? restore the USSR borders.

[@givennorton]

Oil.

[@_robustus_]

@@givennorton They had oil before.

[@theanglo-lithuanian1768]

Nothing. Only this time when they take Eastern Europe it will probably be a nuclear wasteland because of the war that broke out between Russia and Nato when Russia invaded.

[@tb2992]

Putin officially rejected Marxism as a viable idea which we're headed straight into in the west so no it won't happen.