John P. Ruehl

From The Observatory
John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications, and he is the author of Budget Superpower.
Latest by this author
John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications, and his book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas’, was published in December 2022.
Publications by this author
How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas’
Hamilton Books | December | 2022
The Kremlin’s ability to shape global affairs appeared decimated following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Coupled with the internal instability that gripped Russia in the 1990s, Moscow struggled to develop a coherent and effective foreign policy for almost a decade. But under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has steadily reemerged as one of the most significant countries in the world—and one that is increasingly willing to challenge the United States. In Budget Superpower, geopolitics journalist John P. Ruehl explores how Russia has achieved this feat, despite its relatively limited economic strength. The book is divided into eight chapters, each exploring a tool or approach of the Kremlin’s and how and where it has used this method to maximize Russia’s influence. Each chapter also analyzes the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of Russia’s strategies, as well as cautious predictions for how they may evolve in the future.