Putin ready to lead Russia into new era
The audience was made to wait for Putin’s take on Russia’s international agenda, with many surprised at how much was said regarding domestic affairs. Th
“They did not listen to us. So listen to us now,” he said, addressing the West. This phrase inaugurated Russia’s new way of acting: It is fed up with oppression and humiliation, and it will not repeat old mantras that the US threatens Russia’s security, violates existing bilateral agreements, spreads NATO troops to Russia’s borders and keeps nuclear arsenals in Europe. Those polite indications on the numerous violations have not worked, so Russia is changing the discourse. It does not care anymore what the West has and what it does, instead the West should care about what Russia has. It is a kind of diplomacy on the one hand, and the launch of arms race 2.0 on the other, taking into account who sits in the White House.
Putin unveiled a range of ballistic missiles and weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads that could reach anywhere in the world without being intercepted. However, more important was what the Russian president, who showed a video on a huge screen in the hall including a review of the missiles, said: That Russia would consid
In all my articles regarding the West’s approaches toward Russia, I have pointed out how they are generally
The key message of the speech — Russia is no longer afraid — was, despite all expectations, first addressed to the citizens. It was the most powerful message Putin could deliver just 18 days before the first round of presidential elections. But it is certain as well that this message was addressed to the US and to the West in general.President Putin’s strong speech reflects his self-confidence, which is built on a highly developed military capability, proving this is a new Russia that is no longer intimidated by the West.
Maria Dubovikova
The intelligence reports of last month’s Munich Scurity Confere
Russia fears attacks by armed extremist groups targeting its naval base in Tartus and air base in Hmeimim. The first warning in this regard was an attempted attack by an unmanned drone, which targeted the latter with advanced missiles in January.
President Donald Trump is fuelling fires of tension around the world, and is expected to cancel the nuclear agreement with Iran in the next few months, just as the US cancelled the missile treaty with Russia in 2001.
Russia has regained most of its strength and has become a superpower again. The world has to listen to Moscow. Putin’s strong,
- Maria Dubovikova is a prominent political commentator, researcher and expert on Middle East affairs. She is president of the Moscow-based International Middle Eastern Studies Club (IMESClub). Twitter: @politblogme
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