ImageGear,
You put things upside down. "Cooperation" from late 80's through early 00's meant "surrender" and humiliation for Russia. Lots of hardware were destroyed to reduce its amount (as the West insisted), all armed forces were in a chaos state. Then came (bombing of) Yugoslavia and expansion of NATO to the Russian borders. Peacekeeper masks (of US and NATO) were thrown away and luckily some slow re-construction finally started here.
Your colleagues are right in some posts above: let's leave in peace. Do not "tease the bear", do not throw stones, do not threat, etc. and he would live quietly in his forest.
Regarding passing through straights, there is such a thing called "international law". Until the law is not changed, navigation in places like English Channel, Bosphorus/Dardanelles etc. is allowed. Change the treaties and ships will be sailing north of the islands, no problem.
Last edited by A_Van; 22nd Oct 2016 at 07:12.