CRIMEA HAS BEEN A CRUX OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY SINCE THE LATE 2010's. OFFICIALLY PART OF RUSSIA SINCE 2014 AFTER A BOGUS REFERENDUM, ITS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION SINCE THEN. HERE'S HOW.
Astute readers will discover a speck of territory disconnected from the Russian mainland in the bottom left region of Russia. Thats Crimea. After the dissolution of USSR in 1991, the Crimean public with a slight majority voted to be a part of Ukraine. Historically, Crimea has been a part of Russia since the rule of the Tsars in 1783.
However the manner in which Putin used brute force by sending in the troops & causing a mass disarray has invited global condemnation. Putin also had the advantage of large Russians living in Crimea who did not oppose these developments & rather voted in favor of accession to Russia in 2014. Due to these immoral acts, only 17 countries recognize Crimea as part of Russia whereas the other 117 nations of UNGA oppose it.
However the main question is:
WHY DOES RUSSIA WANT CRIMEA?
To answer this, we have to carefully look at the map below.
These red pins are Russia's sea ports. You will notice how the northern coast have no warm water port i.e. one which is accessible all year round, The problem with all ports in Russia is that their water freezes in winter. So Russia is heavily dependent on railways & roadways for exports. However this was prior to 2014.
The annexation of Crimea gave Russia access to 2 warm water ports:
Yalta
Sevastopol
Thus Russia's dependence on other means of transport for exports declined. Now Russia could trade freely with its neighbors in the Black Sea with any ecological or environmental constraints.
Thus trade with Turkey ,Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova increased to a great extent.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Russia is a force to be reckoned with in Central Asia & Eastern Europe. China will have a hard time exerting its influence in this region.
Tensions between Turkey & Russia are on the rise as Turkish hegemony in the Black Sea has come to a premature end.
United Nations is an incompetent and irrelevant organisation as despite opposition by 117 members & several sanctions, only some weak nations like Armenia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan,Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela & Sudan support Russia against Ukraine. Russia still controls Crimea.
Ukraine is a major victim in this geopolitical mishap as it has lost a major sovereign part because of Russian might & immorality. Crimea accounted to 3% of Ukrainian GDP.
CRIMEA'S ECONOMIC PICTURE IN 2014 (source RT)
AS ALWAYS SUGGESTIONS & COMMENTS ARE WELCME. THANK YOU FOR READING.
Па-па!