Russia’s economic and political transitions over the past decade have had a dramatic impact on security policy, the military, and military-industrial complexes in the Russian Far East. These “transitions,” particularly substantially decreased defense spending and the devolution of power to regional governments, have significant implications for domestic stability in Russia and the complex security environment in Northeast Asia. Factories that produced weapons for the Soviet military now market their arms abroad, lay off workers, or close down. Soldiers and other defense-enterprise workers have gone unpaid, while Russia’s Pacific Fleet and nuclear weapons deteriorate. The essays in this issue of NBR Analysis, one written by a Russian scholar and the other by an American scholar, provide an interesting perspective on these concerns and suggest policy recommendations for the Russian and U.S. governments.