The Russian Federation: a target, not a superpower
Capitalist Russia: a target, not a superpower
https://www.workers.org/?p=61445
This article, originally published July 12, 2017, by Workers World, remains timely in January 2022 as the U.S. threatens war at the Russian border with Ukraine and ramps up China-baiting in an attempt to break up agreements being forged between nations seeking to remain independent of U.S. imperiali
Russia is a target of U.S. [neo]imperialism because of its vast resources. Eighty percent of Russian exports abroad are now in raw materials, primarily gas and oil. The petroleum industry in Russia is one of the largest in the world. It is the largest exporter of natural gas. Coal, iron, aluminum, precious metals, lumber and cereals are other major exports.
This makes Russia’s economy especially vulnerable to global commodity swings and drastic downturns.
There is an insatiable drive to control Russia’s great wealth by the largest banks and corporations. All currents of the U.S. and Western [neo]imperialist ruling class are desperate to have unlimited access to this great stream of profits, which they had finally laid their hands on just a few years ago. Remember: Imperialism’s very survival depends on expansion and profit.