The Russian defense ministry has announced plans for a massive military drill to take place in September. This comes just a week after the ministry boasted that 63,000 Russian troops have fought in Syria since Russia’s intervention started in September 2015. Three years later, the Kremlin’s role in the Middle East has only expanded. Is the drill only a show of strength, or an introduction to military confrontation? Nonresident senior fellow of Atlantic Council Mark Simakovksy analyzes.
