"We can’t simply wait and assume that a potential Russian attack won't come before 2029," German intelligence chief Martin Jaeger said. "We’re already under fire today."
Threatening and posturing to destabilize Europe and NATO, while going heavily on grey zone warfare and divisive misinformation campaigns. At the top, should not want any kinetic warfare against NATO, but rhetoric, ‘yes’ men, and arrogance may make some think they can and should.
Also and as somebody else pointed out, if makes sense for him to try and scare European nations so that they refrain from sending as many weapons and ammo to Ukraine because of thinking they might need those to defend themselves from Russia.
So a sabble-rattling discourse and even the recent air-space intrusions by Russian military planes are cheap ways of trying to get the strategical gain of Ukraine receiving fewer weapons from the rest of Europe and even if those things fail he loses nothing from doing them (at this point, he’s hardly going to get in a worst situation than he already put himself in).
It makes absolute sense to pursue a strategy where at best you gain something and at worst you lose nothing.
Now, if the response to the Russian intrusion in European airspace had been for European nations to set up and enforce a no fly for Russia inside Ukraine, that would’ve definitelly been a loss for him (at the very least the rest of Europe would protect Western Ukraine from Russian drones and air assets, freeing Ukranian assets to be used elsewhere), but the leaderships of European nations have yet to show a willingness or capability to act decisivelly like that as a group: even the help with weapons and ammo took ages to get going properly, was riddled with “red lines” (like “no tanks”, then “no jets”, then “no long range cruise missiles”) and there was a lot of feet-dragging, especially from Germany) so actual direct intervention even if only with air assets doesn’t seem likely as response the “mere” Russian air space intrusions and unconventional warfare that can be denied (cyber attacks, election interference, support for extreme political forces, cutting of undersea cables and so on).
That’s Putin, always claiming he’s got a royal flush even when just holding a pair to try to intimidate the opponent into folding. It’s the same every time.
Saddest part is his grand strategy is literally open source, i.e. “Foundations of Geopolitics”, written by a Russian ultra nationalist, taught in Russian military academy’s. Main points are weakening NATO and US by supporting internal strife and divisions, allowing Russia to take back its “land” and sphere of influence.
Top many willing useful idiots for them to use. . .
I read that book, boy it’s a steaming crock of shit. They are following the worst book second to mein kampf that has soo many misconceptions that you really get a sense on why Russia is such a shithole.
Curious how he defines “ready”.
Ready to fuck around. Not ready to find out.
Threatening and posturing to destabilize Europe and NATO, while going heavily on grey zone warfare and divisive misinformation campaigns. At the top, should not want any kinetic warfare against NATO, but rhetoric, ‘yes’ men, and arrogance may make some think they can and should.
Also and as somebody else pointed out, if makes sense for him to try and scare European nations so that they refrain from sending as many weapons and ammo to Ukraine because of thinking they might need those to defend themselves from Russia.
So a sabble-rattling discourse and even the recent air-space intrusions by Russian military planes are cheap ways of trying to get the strategical gain of Ukraine receiving fewer weapons from the rest of Europe and even if those things fail he loses nothing from doing them (at this point, he’s hardly going to get in a worst situation than he already put himself in).
It makes absolute sense to pursue a strategy where at best you gain something and at worst you lose nothing.
Now, if the response to the Russian intrusion in European airspace had been for European nations to set up and enforce a no fly for Russia inside Ukraine, that would’ve definitelly been a loss for him (at the very least the rest of Europe would protect Western Ukraine from Russian drones and air assets, freeing Ukranian assets to be used elsewhere), but the leaderships of European nations have yet to show a willingness or capability to act decisivelly like that as a group: even the help with weapons and ammo took ages to get going properly, was riddled with “red lines” (like “no tanks”, then “no jets”, then “no long range cruise missiles”) and there was a lot of feet-dragging, especially from Germany) so actual direct intervention even if only with air assets doesn’t seem likely as response the “mere” Russian air space intrusions and unconventional warfare that can be denied (cyber attacks, election interference, support for extreme political forces, cutting of undersea cables and so on).
That’s Putin, always claiming he’s got a royal flush even when just holding a pair to try to intimidate the opponent into folding. It’s the same every time.
Saddest part is his grand strategy is literally open source, i.e. “Foundations of Geopolitics”, written by a Russian ultra nationalist, taught in Russian military academy’s. Main points are weakening NATO and US by supporting internal strife and divisions, allowing Russia to take back its “land” and sphere of influence.
Top many willing useful idiots for them to use. . .
So: divide and rule, and do as much imperialism as they can get away with.
Guy must be some kinda fuckin’ genius.
I read that book, boy it’s a steaming crock of shit. They are following the worst book second to mein kampf that has soo many misconceptions that you really get a sense on why Russia is such a shithole.
Yeah, but that’s kind of what they’re already doing, in which case it’s not news. He’s implying they have some nebulous new kind of readiness.
Maybe they do, maybe he’s just trying to get everyone on board with rearming. Which I guess is a good idea in any case.