Shot across the bow

Russia trying to guage the reaction of the new administration-elect, while simultaneously determining the qualities of its own allies. This is a time where Russia will be most distrustful of its competitors and its friends.

MOSCOW — In a wide-ranging attack on the United States as it elected a new president, the Russian leader Dmitri A. Medvedev warned on Wednesday that Moscow might deploy short-range missiles in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad to counter a perceived threat from a proposed American missile defense shield in eastern Europe.
His remarks, in his first state of the nation address since assuming the presidency in May, coincided with the election of Barack Obama and offered a chill glimpse into the potential issues and tensions confronting the new American leader when he takes office in January.
Mr. Medvedev did not specifically congratulate Mr. Obama on his victory, saying only that he hoped that “our partners — the new U.S. administration — will make a choice in favor of full-fledged relationship with Russia.”
At the same time, however, he spoke of a “new configuration for the military forces of our country” that would include abandoning plans to dismantle some missile regiments.