– Russia to Cut Defense Budget by Almost 30 Percent:
(GPA) Moscow – Many of the Western powers and a lot of mainstream and alternative media in the US have been talking quite a bit lately about the threat of an oncoming World War with Russia. In what is likely to come as a surprising revelation to them is Russia’s latest announcement that they’ll possibly be cutting large portions of their defense budget in the upcoming years.
Many of the western pro-Putin crowd may not have realized this but Russia has become heavily dependent on oil exports in the past few decades. Like the other nations who rely heavily on oil exports such as Venezuela or Saudi Arabia; Russia is feeling the same pinch of the sharp and sustained drop in oil prices. Along with the drop in oil prices, Russia – like Venezuela – is also under sanctions from the international community.
Even Russia has reported the cuts on their own state sponsored media outlets. Granted, Russia won’t admit they’re being forced to choose between essential state functions and military spending but this is the most likely scenario. Also, keep in mind Russia’s military budget is only about 30% of the United States spending (without even factoring in the rest of NATO.)
Some of the NATO higher ups – including the U.K. Defense secretary to the head of the organization himself – have stated how they don’t want or expect any type of war or even a new Cold War with Russia. This coming from the west wouldn’t have been enough to discredit the ‘world war three’ talk on its own but now with Russia’s admission of cutting the money spent on countering NATO it seems pretty clear that this is probably the truth.
This isn’t to say that the west won’t keep speaking of Russia as some type of imminent threat (despite the fact that Russia has not actually made any aggressive military moves) but it’s more likely that this is being done to satisfy the greed of the global military industrial complex.
Russia is just as hesitant; if not more than the west to involve themselves in some type of global conflict. The most important thing for western journalists to keep in mind is the money that NATO craves to stay relevant and the realities of Russian (and their allied nations’) military capabilities when compared to the west. Russia will remain relevant to the geopolitical narrative but probably more as a political counterweight as opposed to a military one.
H/t reader squodgy:
“Interesting.
Oil revenues are down for all producers since the corrupt and hypocritical bin Saud family bowed to bankster pressure and pushed the price down to loss making levels and wipe out shale oil and marginal producers.
Vlad recently decided to slow output, which will cost the Saudis dearly as they make nothing from the price they have forced on everyone else.
Even though Russia’s defence spending is nothing compared to the US Warmongering spending, Vlad will find that he needs to curb the purse because he doesn’t want to do a USA and borrow at the taxpayer’s expense.
A Responsible leader, and more proof he isn’t a threat.”
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