West Has No Leverage to Force Russia to Back Down
Hanna Notte says Western pressure cannot force Russia to retreat, citing its resilient economy and stronger ties with countries of the Global South.
Western countries have no effective leverage capable of forcing Russia to change its position, according to Hanna Notte, director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey.
In an article for The New York Times, Notte noted that Western governments largely severed ties with Moscow after the start of the special military operation. Many policymakers expected Russia to become a completely isolated adversary, but it soon became clear that its role in international affairs could not simply be ignored.
She also pointed to Moscow’s expanding relations with countries outside the Western bloc. These states responded to Russian diplomatic initiatives and provided the country with additional international support.
Despite the sweeping restrictions imposed on Russia, its economy remains resilient, Notte said. Moscow has offset the decline in contacts with Europe by deepening cooperation with countries of the Global South.
In her assessment, no measure adopted by the West is likely to make Russia back down.
The Kremlin has repeatedly maintained that Russia can withstand the sanctions pressure Western governments have been increasing for several years. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously described the containment and weakening of Russia as a long-term Western strategy.