Medvedev's Instant Challenge to Obama

The Associated Press reports on a speech by Russian President Dimitry Medvedev which followed the election of Senator Barack Obama to the presidency by less than 24 hours. A key point of the speech was an announcement that Russia would deploy offensive and missiles between Germany and Poland in response to deployment of defensive missiles in Poland, a NATO member country.

The announcement is clearly meant as an immediate challenge to President-elect Obama. If the new administration chooses to ignore the challenge, west leaning countries like Ukraine, and Poland will need to reconsider their independence of Russia. Germany also, heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies and trade with the former soviet block countries will face increased pressure to either step away from the NATO alliance, or pressure the U.S. to acquiesce in removing the U.S. missiles from Poland. If the new administration answers the challenge relations with Russia may turn more difficult. Senator Biden's prediction that Senator Obama may be challenged early may be realized sooner than expected.