Publication

This paper argues that since 2014 Russia has used its military and the threat of force as instruments of coercive diplomacy, primarily to 1) divide and distract Europe, the EU and NATO, and 2) deter them from challenging Moscow´s activities in its spheres of influence. The author also contends that the success of this “heavy metal” approach has varied, but it has been effective enough that the West should expect it to continue in the immediate future.