Question

Has anyone thought about Russia's lone wolf approach to world affairs? I wonder what their end game is? If they don't want to be part of the community of nations or perhaps they see the community of nations as being led by the United States and they want to be a leader in this regard. I wonder if they want to be seen as equal to the U.S.? Is Russia trying to have it all both ways?

Answer 1

Who is a lone wolf ?

A lone wolf is someone who prepares and commits violent acts alone, outside of any command structure and without material assistance from any group.

He or she may be influenced or motivated by the ideology and beliefs of an external group and may act in support of such a group. In its original sense, a "lone wolf" is an animal or person that generally lives or spends time alone instead of with a group.

Russia is carrying out a military buildup and modernization in western Russia, and the Baltic Sea region has become a major area of friction between Russia and Nato. Russia’s manoeuvres will give it increased military options toward the West but Russia will not risk a direct military confrontation with Nato.

Russia’s distrust of Nato and its willingness to take risks increases, however, the risk of misunderstandings and miscalculations. Together, that contributes to increased insecurity, including in the Baltic region, and Russia in the coming years will continue to be a significant security challenge for the West.

It is warned that Russia not only poses a physical threat, but in cyberspace as well. Cyber threat against the West is very high and it is an ongoing threat in which authorities and enterprises are continuously attacked by cyber espionage attempts.

Beyond espionage, it is also said that cyber attacks from Russia and other foreign states could be used to “influence public opinion” in Western countries.

The terror threat in the West remains serious and that future attacks against the West will be increasingly carried out by so-called lone wolves, who act on their own but who are inspired by terror groups like Isis or al-Qaeda.

Individuals in the West who sympathize with these groups are carrying out more terror attacks than before, without prior training or direct control from the terror groups.

“Individuals in the West who sympathize with these groups are carrying out more terror attacks than before, without prior training or direct control from the terror groups,” the report said.