When we exposed the shift in Russia's military doctrine towards one of nuclear deterrence and pre-emptive strikes [6], many eschewed it as fantastical thinking of extremists. They were wrong. Speaking at a defense meeting this morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared he is taking charge of Russia's military-industrial complex:
- *PUTIN SAYS DRAFT NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE SHOULD BE READY BY DEC.
- *PUTIN CALLS ENSURING NUCLEAR DETERRENT TOP DEFENSE TASK TO 2030
This does not seem like de-escalatory conversation as NATO continues to push - to justify its existence - and Putin now prepares an increasingly Cold-War-esque response threat (following an overnight nuclear missile test).
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Wednesday taking direct charge of a commission that oversees Russia's defense industry as Moscow tries to reduce reliance on Western equipment following sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
He also said NATO was using rhetoric over the conflict in Ukraine to "resuscitate itself" and that Russia had warned repeatedly that it would have to respond to such moves.
And overnight, RIA reports a successful Russian Nuclear Missile test:
- *RUSSIA SUCCESSFULLY TESTED BULAVA MISSILE, RIA SAYS
- *RUSSIA SAYS BULAVA MISSILE TEST FIRED FROM SUBMARINE: RIA
Russia’s Vladimir Monomakh nuclear submarine launched Bulava missile from White Sea to shooting range in Kamchatka, state-run RIA Novosti reports, citing Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Igor Konashenkov.
[8]
Defense Ministry earlier said 2 Bulava tests planned for 2014, in Sept. and Nov.: RIA
He added:
- *PUTIN SAYS UKRAINE CRISIS BEING USED TO REVIVE NATO
- *PUTIN SAYS U.S. EXIT FROM MISSILE-DEFENSE TREATY CREATES THREAT
- *PUTIN ORDERS 2016-2030 DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET BY END OF OCT
And who will be in charge of all this...
- *PUTIN SAYS HE'LL HEAD RUSSIAN MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
As RIA reports, [9]
"Decree on the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation, it is subordinated to the president directly. We discussed this issue with the government, the Prime Minister, and decided that it would be more effective than her work is built keeping in mind the fact that it will deal with a large power issues now import ", - Putin said at the meeting.
He added that the deputy was appointed vice-premier Rogozin, executive secretary - deputy defense minister Borisov.
"We hope that the new status of the commission, as well as its broad powers allow better coordinate cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the other departments and defense enterprises, to solve all questions on the organization of the state defense order execution", - Putin said.
No surprise there!
And then there's this...
- *RUSSIA, IRAN TO RESUME TALKS ON CIVILIAN NUCLEAR PROJECTS SOON
