US and Russia: Axes of expediency

Last week, the US media reported that the United States and Russia are involved in a "dangerous game of military brinkmanship in Europe", one that "raises the spectre that either side could misinterpret a move by the other, triggering a conflict between two powers with major nuclear arsenals despite a sharp reduction from the Cold War era".

But in the real world, the US has conducted a four-week war games stretching from Estonia to Bulgaria, to reassure its East European allies that it takes Russian threats seriously.

So is the operating word here "war" or "games"?

Since the Ukraine crisis, conservative ideologues and so-called strategists on both sides have dwelled on the dangers of new Cold War, citing the occasional recrimination between the White House and the Kremlin.

And it all does seem confusing at times. One day the US is thanking Russia for evacuating its citizens from war-torn Yemen, and the next day, it's complaining about dangerous Russian interception of a US reconnaissance plane.
Be that as it may, the US and Russia have maintained open channels of consultation and coordination, and even a "non-coordinated coordination" in the Middle East and beyond.
So have Obama and Putin finally agreed to disagree on certain core issues all the while synchronising their efforts on the main threats facing their nations? 
Moscow's pursuits
The speed and boldness of this week's Russian decision to transfer missiles to Iran underline Moscow's firm pursuit of its geopolitical interests regardless of the cost to Middle East security and stability.
Russian officials claim that the delivery of the sophisticated-but-defensive missile system to Iran will advance regional stability. While that's doubtful at best, there's no doubt the sale will advance Russia's own military and economic interests in Iran and beyond.
The Kremlin's decision to "promptly" transfer the S-300 missiles does not violate existing UN Security Council sanctions, but will pave the way for the sale of more conventional weapons that threaten another Middle East arms race.
The Russian defence ministry is also trying to sell Iran Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile systems, a similar but more advanced system than the S-300.