eli5 – Russia has an economy smaller than Canada or Italy. How does it continue to be a threatening, great power without going bankrupt?

Question

eli5 – Russia has an economy smaller than Canada or Italy. How does it continue to be a threatening, great power without going bankrupt?

In: 808

Answer 1

Russia has developed military might not just by spending billions on defense but also with diplomacy which date backs to Middle ages…they had defeated the Mongols and at one point have lands on Europe, asia, & north America.