Part 10/13:
This internal decline translates into a weakening Russia on the global stage. Its ability to exert influence over neighboring countries—particularly in Central Asia and the Caucasus—is diminishing, as regional powers like China expand their footprints into territories once dominated by Moscow. The demographic shifts threaten internal unity, with decreasing proportions of ethnic Russians and rising populations of non-Russian minorities, which could stir social tensions and undermine the Kremlin’s narratives of national strength.