The reason they wouldn't nuke London or DC is because both nations would have a nuclear response. So unless they have a Red Alert mind control phone nukes would be suicide.
As would be a conventional war with NATO, who would most assuredly impose "regime change" on Russia after fucking them up nicely.
Given that probability, the most effective defensive strategy is to to say "if any of your new flunkies fuck with me I'll kill us all". Mutually assured destruction kept the peace during the cold war.
The most effective defensive strategy would be to get into bed with China and India and cut the West out. The West entirely relies on China for manufacturing and India is quickly becoming a major player in the drug world.
The West cannot afford to lose those two as trading parties and China and India would love Russian gas.
The reason they wouldn't nuke London or DC is because both nations would have a nuclear response. So unless they have a Red Alert mind control phone nukes would be suicide.
As would be a conventional war with NATO, who would most assuredly impose "regime change" on Russia after fucking them up nicely.
Given that probability, the most effective defensive strategy is to to say "if any of your new flunkies fuck with me I'll kill us all". Mutually assured destruction kept the peace during the cold war.
The most effective defensive strategy would be to get into bed with China and India and cut the West out. The West entirely relies on China for manufacturing and India is quickly becoming a major player in the drug world.
The West cannot afford to lose those two as trading parties and China and India would love Russian gas.
What prevents or has prevented Russia from becoming a powerhouse in manufacturing like China?
Probably a lack of access to the sea and the fact that China already has that market cornered.