Has Putin Really Outsmarted the West?

When Putin went to war with Ukraine, most thought that the war would be over soon due to the sanctions that were imposed on Russia by the west. However, it seems as if the measures taken against Russia have only resulted in increased prices for American citizens and minimal to no effect on Russia. Considering this and looking at history, there are several actions that point to as evidence that Putin has outsmarted the West. These include:

1. Russia's military intervention in Syria: In 2015, Russia intervened in the Syrian Civil War on the side of President Bashar al-Assad. The intervention helped to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Assad regime: Before Russia's intervention, the Syrian government was losing ground to rebel groups, and the West had been supporting some of these groups in their efforts to overthrow Assad. By intervening on the side of the Syrian government, Russia helped to change the balance of power and allowed the Assad regime to regain control over much of the country.

It limited the West's options for intervention: Russia's military intervention in Syria made it much more difficult for the West to intervene directly in the conflict. This is because the presence of Russian military forces in Syria meant that any intervention by Western countries would have risked a direct confrontation with Russia, which could have escalated into a much larger conflict.

It allowed Russia to assert its military power and influence in the Middle East: By intervening in Syria, Russia was able to demonstrate its military capabilities and assert its influence in the Middle East. This was seen as a direct challenge to the West's dominance in the region and a sign that Russia was emerging as a major player in Middle Eastern affairs.

2. The annexation of Crimea: In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, which was met with international condemnation and economic sanctions from Western countries. However, some argue that Putin outsmarted the West by quickly and effectively consolidating control over the region, which has a significant Russian-speaking population, without facing significant military resistance. The annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 was seen by some as a move that helped to further Russia's agenda and severely disrupted the West's agenda. Some of the ways it did this include:

Consolidation of control over a region with a significant Russian-speaking population: Crimea is home to a large population of ethnic Russians, and the annexation of the region helped to solidify Russia's control over this population. This was seen as a move to protect the rights and interests of Russian speakers in the region, which was in line with Russia's wider agenda of protecting the rights of ethnic Russians living abroad.

Control of the Black Sea: Crimea is strategically important due to its location on the Black Sea, which gives Russia control over the waters and access to the Mediterranean Sea. This enhances Russia's naval capabilities and expands its sphere of influence in the region.

Disruption of Western plans for Ukraine: The West had been supporting Ukraine's efforts to integrate with Western institutions such as the EU and NATO, but the annexation of Crimea disrupted these plans. This is because it demonstrated that Russia was willing to use force to assert its interests and that it would not tolerate Ukraine's drift towards the West.

3. Diplomatic maneuvering: Putin has been able to use diplomatic means to outsmart the West on several fronts, for example, by making deals with other countries, such as Turkey and Iran, to counterbalance the influence of Western countries in the Middle East. Additionally, Putin has been able to use the United Nations and other international organizations to further his own agenda, such as vetoing UN resolutions condemning the actions of the Syrian government.

4. Cyber operations: Putin has been accused of using cyber operations to interfere in the political processes of Western countries and influence public opinion. Some argue that Putin has been able to outsmart the West by using these tactics to achieve his goals without being detected or facing significant consequences.

5. Energy: Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of oil and natural gas, and Putin has been able to use this to his advantage by using energy as a tool of diplomacy. For example, Russia has been able to use its energy resources to maintain its influence over Eastern Europe and counterbalance the influence of Western countries in the region.

It's important to note that some of the above examples are controversial and not universally accepted and that Putin's actions have also faced international condemnation and economic sanctions. Additionally, many argue that Putin's actions have isolated Russia, led to economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation, and that Russia's economy and international relations have suffered. However, from the current inflation facing the world right now, it is evident that if Putin will ever go down he will go with a fight that could result in significant consequences.