Aviation Finance as an Instrument of Power

War, and its resulting sanctions, create financial damage worldwide, including in aviation.

Thursday, March 03, 2022 at 10:08 AM ET

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Lt. Gen. Vasyl Nikiforov and Maj. Gen. Don Ralph Nikiforov sit in an Ukrainian SU-27 preparing for an upcoming flight. {Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Instead of military force, nations are primarily employing economic instruments of power (DIME) to pressure Russia over its aggression in Ukraine.
Aviation sanctions, including widespread airspace bans and demands for leased aircraft returns, are severely impacting Russian airlines, trade, and the ability of its citizens and oligarchs to travel.
Broader financial measures, such as asset freezes, ruble collapse, stock market decimation, and potential SWIFT removal, are pushing Russia into a deep recession and causing widespread economic suffering.

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As aviation enthusiasts, it’s easy for us to picture how a strike force of F-22s, F-35s, F-15Cs, and F-16CJs could return Ukrainian air supremacy to its rightful owners. However, military force isn’t always the right tool for the U.S. to use.

Thankfully, the nations who support freedom for the people of Ukraine have other instruments of power at their disposal. In some ways, those tools will inflict more harm on Russia than any bomb or missile.