RLL does a really good job of presenting a genuinely good visualization of Zeihan's interpretation of Russian geopolitics and offensive/defensive strategies in the west, and then points out the giant flaw in Zeihan's theory -- Russia and China aren't good enough allies to consider the eastern front secure.
@7 Stalin and Churchill would like a word
@7 how do you think the rest of the global south would react to China placing such pressure on Russia?
@7 no, genuine question, how do you think the global south would react?
@7 not sure on the timeline of the *googles CSTO* thing, Russo-Sino tensions being what they are, don't you think the calculus has changed post-SMO/Slavic Tango?
@7 pre-invasion you see ~petty mutual testing of boundaries and general shenanigans
post-invasion, Russia has upped the tempo; China wants Taiwan? time to get moving. Western sanctions of limited effect and boomeranging? Dollar reserves looking shaky. Saudi's starting to sell oil in Yuan? Someone's window shopping for a new Uniform Daddy.
If there was a time to break away from the US and establish a multi-polar order it's probably now or never, and as China isn't yet big enough to be the hegemon, simply because the US is still strong.
The KISS strategy is to continue Eurasian integration, stick together and keep the global south on-side. Otherwise the US will ply divide and conquer and pick up the pieces once again.
To conclude, pre-SMO elbowing is way down on the priority list now the game's afoot
