Russia: Putin Pushes New Military Overhaul, Prioritises Nuclear Power Firstpost America
Russia: Putin Pushes New Military Overhaul, Prioritises Nuclear Power | Firstpost America | N18G
Russia: Putin Pushes New Military Overhaul, Prioritises Nuclear Power | Firstpost America | N18G
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for special attention to the nuclear triad in Russia's new arms programme. This came as he held talks with military officials to discuss the draft long-term state armament programme in Moscow. The proposed overhaul, expected to run from 2027 to 2036, aims to incorporate lessons from the war in Ukraine and other conflict zones. The strategy also targets improved mobility, automation, and upgrade options for ground forces, alongside expanded aircraft procurement and naval capabilities, as Russia continues military operations amid global pressure for a ceasefire. Watch the video to know more.
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
'I don't care what she said': Trump on Tulsi Gabbard's Iran nukes claim
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) publicly rejected the assessment of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard regarding Iran's nuclear program. Speaking to reporters while returning from the G7 summit in Canada, Trump contradicted Gabbard's testimony to Congress that Iran is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons. Instead, he sided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has consistently claimed that Iran is inching closer to nuclear capability, justifying Israel's airstrikes on Iranian positions. When asked how close Iran was to developing a nuclear bomb, Trump responded, 'Very close.' Reporters also pointed out Gabbard's earlier statement to Congress in March this year, where she said US intelligence agencies believed Iran had not restarted its nuclear weapons program. To this, Trump replied, 'I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having one.' This marks the first time in his second term that Trump has directly challenged Gabbard's view on Iran's nuclear intentions. Ongoing tensions with US intelligence Trump has a long history of clashing with intelligence officials. During his first term, he repeatedly cast doubt on agency findings — including the widely accepted conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help his campaign. At one point, he even sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials over US intelligence assessments during a summit in Helsinki. Intelligence agencies differ on Iran threat Meanwhile, Director Gabbard's position remains unchanged, according to a Reuters report. Her office maintains that US intelligence believes Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has not given orders to restart a nuclear weapons program. Iran, for its part, continues to deny any intent to develop nuclear arms. It insists that its uranium enrichment activities are for peaceful, civilian use. According to Gabbard's briefing to Congress, even if Iran decided to restart its weapons program today, it would still need up to three years to develop a nuclear warhead capable of targeting other nations. On the other hand, Netanyahu, who has long warned about Iran's nuclear ambitions, welcomed Trump's stance. He has argued that pre-emptive Israeli action is necessary to prevent Iran from reaching weapons-grade nuclear capability.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Oil, Ukraine, and a lesson from Syria: Why Russia is hesitant to help ally Iran as Israel rains missiles
Photo/Agencies Just a decade ago, the world watched as Russia made a bold and high-stakes intervention in Syria. In 2015, when Bashar al-Assad's regime stood on the brink of collapse, Russian fighter jets streaked across Syrian skies. That intervention not only saved Assad, at least temporarily, but also projected Moscow's re-emergence as a power with teeth in the Middle East. Fast forward to 2025, and the scene today looks very different. Iran, one of Russia's closest regional allies, is now under sustained attack from Israel. Over the past several days, Israeli strikes have hit Iranian missile facilities and suspected nuclear sites. And yet, the Kremlin's response has been muted, even passive. While Moscow has issued the usual statements of concern and condemnation, it has shown no inclination to get involved militarily. This marks a sharp departure from the Syria playbook and reflects a significant recalibration of Russia's Middle East policy. A war too far: Ukraine saps Russia's will to fight for Iran At the heart of Russia's caution is its war in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict, Europe's biggest since World War II, is now in its third year, and has consumed much of Russia's military capacity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch xu hướng AUD/USD? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Nikita Smagin, an expert on Russia-Iran relations, summed it up clearly: "Russia, when it comes to Iran, must weigh the possibility of a clash with Israel and the United States, so saving Iran is obviously not worth it," Smagin was quoted as saying by the New York Times . In other words, the Kremlin has neither the resources nor the appetite for another major military adventure, especially one that risks confrontation with two formidable powers. Russia is also treading carefully because of its relationships with the Gulf monarchies—countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. These states, while wary of Israeli escalation, are deeply uncomfortable with a stronger Iran. Russia has worked hard to develop economic and energy partnerships with the Gulf, and intervening on Iran's behalf could jeopardize those ties. There is also the recent memory of Syria itself. Although Russia initially managed to keep Assad in power through its intervention, the regime ultimately collapsed in December 2024. The collapse of Assad's regimemarked a painful and costly failure for the Kremlin. Years of military investment, political capital, and international pushback ended in defeat. Half a year later, Moscow is still picking up the pieces—and that experience weighs heavily on how it views the Iranian situation today. There's no doubt that the collapse of Iran's regime—which now appears to be an Israeli objective—would represent another major loss for Russia's network of alliances in the region. It would join Iraq, Libya, and Syria on the growing list of countries where Moscow has seen its influence unravel. And yet, the Kremlin does not appear panicked. In fact, the current conflict may be playing into its hands in a different way. Mediator in the Middle East Unlike during the Syria crisis, where Russia had to use force to assert its presence, this time it is leveraging its position as a potential mediator. Vladimir Putin is currently the only major global leader with open lines to all three key players in this crisis: Iran, Israel, and the United States. That fact alone gives Russia significant diplomatic leverage. A report by CNN highlighted how Putin is already using that leverage behind the scenes. "In a recent call to the White House, Putin reminded President Donald Trump how Russia has been a long-time US ally when it comes to the Iranian nuclear issue – a heavy hint that he is open to being one again." The White House, CNN added, appears receptive to this possibility. "If it comes to some form of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Russia is more likely to play a role between Iran and the United States — Israel's interest in negotiations is not apparent," Fyodor Lukyanov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a think tank that advises the Kremlin, was quoted as saying in a report by the Bloomberg. Putin's mediation efforts have already begun. The Russian president has reached out to both Iranian and Israeli leaders, offering to help de-escalate the situation. From Moscow's perspective, being the indispensable broker is a way to exert influence while avoiding the risks that military intervention would entail. Chaos pays This broker role also aligns with Russia's long-term economic interests. Tensions in the Middle East often lead to higher oil prices, something that benefits the Kremlin, which continues to rely heavily on energy exports to sustain its war in Ukraine. "While the oil price is high, Russia can get billions of dollars, potentially tens of billions of dollars in additional revenue, and this is always useful," Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected political analyst was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. By remaining diplomatically engaged but militarily uninvolved, Russia is preserving its influence in the region while quietly profiting from the instability. What we are seeing, then, is not a retreat by Russia, but a strategic pivot. In the past, influence in the Middle East meant projecting hard power—troops, jets, bases. Today, the Kremlin seems to believe it can do more with less. It is using the crisis not to save Iran in the traditional sense, but to reframe itself as the essential power for dialogue and de-escalation. Still, this approach carries risks. If Iran's regime does fall, Russia will lose one of its few remaining allies in the region. Already, its footholds in Iraq, Libya, and Syria have receded, and Iran's fall would deepen that trend. That could further isolate Moscow at a time when it is already under pressure from Western sanctions and a grinding war in Ukraine. But for now, the Kremlin appears to be betting that it can keep a foot in the door diplomatically, even as its military stays home.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Putin Eyes Peacemaking Role As Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates
Vladimir Putin is eyeing the conflict between Israel and Iran as an opportunity to thrust himself to the forefront of the international stage, more than three years into his invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president has pitched himself as a possible mediator -- though Moscow's closeness to Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine raise doubts about what kind of role he can play, experts say. The assault on Ukraine and the war in Gaza have strained Moscow's traditionally good relations with Israel, home to a large Russian-born community. At the same time, Russia has deepened military ties with Iran. But while Moscow was quick to condemn Israel's strikes on Iran last Friday, Putin also wasted little time phoning both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to offer his role as a peacemaker. "By positioning itself as an indispensable intermediary, Moscow aims to reassert diplomatic relevance despite its pariah status in Europe," said Nicole Grajewski, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It also wants to protect its ally Tehran, facing a potentially existential military clash. "Russia does not want to see regime change in Iran, especially if it results in a pro-Western government," she added. Moscow and Tehran in January inked a far-ranging strategic partnership agreement to broaden military ties, and Kyiv and its allies have long accused Iran of supplying Russia with drones and short-range missiles. - 'Not objective' - Russia is also seeking to regain influence in the Middle East following the fall of ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. "The regime change in Syria caused it to lose ground," said Tatiana Kastoueva-Jean of the French Institute of International Relations. Russia has previously used the region to boost its international standing. After being hit with sanctions for the annexation of Crimea, Russia "emerged from international isolation" by "becoming indispensable in the region," Kastoueva-Jean said. Specifically, by backing Assad in the Syrian civil war and supporting the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal. However, Moscow's much closer alliance with Tehran this time around could disqualify it from playing the role of trusted mediator. "Since Russia is seen as Iran's ally, and they have a strategic partnership agreement, such mediation would not inspire confidence in Europe. Nor in Israel," Russian political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP. "A mediator should not sympathise with one side," he added. French President Emmanuel Macron is among those to have pushed back at the idea of Putin as a moderator. "I do not believe that Russia, which is now engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the UN Charter for several years now, can be a mediator," he said over the weekend. And asked if it had received a response to its overtures, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow saw "a reluctance, on the part of Israel, to resort to any mediation services or to embark on a peaceful path towards a settlement." - 'Woo Trump' - One person who does not seem concerned at a possible role for Russia is Donald Trump, who said he was "open" to Putin playing middleman. The US President is pushing his own rapprochement with Putin in a complete overhaul of the West's attempts to isolate and punish him for the Ukraine offensive. Putin may welcome the opportunity to shift the conversation with the White House just as Trump grows increasingly frustrated over Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine and failure to strike a peace deal. "Russia is trying to woo Trump on issues that go beyond Ukraine," said Kastoueva-Jean. Even before Israel launched its wave of strikes on Iran last Friday, Putin was offering to help secure a deal between Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear programme. But for many the idea of Putin playing peacemaker, more than three years into his invasion of Ukraine is a worrying prospect. "It would legitimise Russia as an indispensable great power at a time when it is waging the biggest war of aggression on European soil since World War II," said Anna Borshchevskaya, an analyst at The Washington Institute.
