Russia - Vladamir Putin

[Mike]

Russia seems to be getting a bit authoritarian again. Apparently the opposition parties are being repressed and arrested. . . . . It is being branded as a revival of the Cold War. They will be able to take advantage of their improved economic cout if this is true as they are providing most of the gas for Europe at the moment.

[mr_e]

A lot of European countries are going to be watching things pretty closely. I suspect it'll be the usual case of Putin being a "moderate" leader until the supply of as becomes unreliable, in which case something will then be done. Although it's not like they can invade this time.

As ever, foreign policy will be dictated largely by energy security.