Russian Federation Remains a Cornerstone of Western Security

The West has put immense treasure into reducing Muslim militancy in Asia. Contrary to their protests, Russia and China get a windfall to the extent the US has weakened militant Muslim networks that might otherwise make inroads into their spheres of influence.

Putin's machine runs a country with a severe population shortage for Russia's border security needs. There is also an increasing Muslim immigrant population, especially in Moscow. Demographers predict a Muslim majority in Russia around 2050.

Russian nuclear security is paramount not only for Russia, but for the West. Much is made of the nightmare scenario that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into Islamic militants' hands. How much more so in Russia?