Main points
- Vladimir Putin has announced plans to cut military spending amid the economic downturn, but this is a manipulation to create the impression that the West is the aggressor.
- The actual cuts are minimal, and Russia's military budget has increased significantly from 2020 to 2025; the announcement is part of a psychological warfare operation to bolster anti-Western sentiment.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has announced plans to cut military spending amid an economic downturn and threats of a possible recession in Russia.
Ukrainian Armed Forces officer and political scientist Andriy Tkachuk, in a conversation with 24 Channel, noted that this statement is manipulative, especially given the events of last week, when NATO countries announced an increase in military spending to 5% of GDP.
Who is Putin's statement aimed at?
According to the military man, Putin is deliberately manipulating the information field, trying to create the impression that the West is the aggressor.
This is manipulation. He throws these things out into the world to continue playing with his own population, he added.
Like, “Look, NATO is increasing its military budgets, and we, on the contrary, are cutting them.” The Kremlin uses such rhetoric to influence domestic audiences and strengthen the narrative about an external threat.
In fact, they are talking about a reduction of 2-5 billion dollars, while from 2020 to 2025, Russia's military budget has grown from 40 to 140 billion dollars per year. Today, about 7% of Russia's GDP is allocated to defense.
This is another example of an information-psychological operation, noted Andrey Tkachuk.
It is aimed at both its own population and the outside world. The Kremlin is trying to strengthen anti-Western sentiments at home and maintain its influence in regions where it still has diplomatic leverage, particularly in Africa and Latin America.
