Russia’s Strengthening Military Presence in the Caucasus and Black Sea
Throughout 2010, Russia has pursued pro-active foreign policy to strengthen its military presence outside of its borders in the Caucasus and the Black Sea. Even though Moscow has failed to preserve its dominance just after the collapse of Soviet Union, it succeeded to rebuild its presence in the post-Soviet space in line with a strategic doctrine that requires preserving its stance in this geography for the country’s sovereignty in its own territory. In this sense, Russia is creating a buffer zone out of its borders, and trying to take preventive measures as well as act like a balancing power in the region. Russia has started to strengthen its position in the eastern and northern part of the Black Sea, after becoming neighbors with NATO forces in the west and southern part of the region as a result of eastern expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance. In fact, Russia gained some privileges in 1990s, thanks to the emerging conflicts and its psychological influence or structural superio...