Belousov's appointment comes as defense spending surges and Putin prepares Russia for a long war in Ukraine.
Putin dismissed previous Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and offered him a position as secretary of the national security council.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed economist Andrei Belousov as the new Defense Minister.
In 2014, Russia’s bloc of economic strategists was alarmed by Vladimir Putin’s decision to annex Crimea and foment a war in eastern Ukraine, leading to western condemnation and sanctions against Russia that were seen as potentially ruinous.
But his adviser Andrei Belousov was a rare economist who publicly stood by his side, calling the damage manageable and western sanctions “insignificant” in terms of the Russian economy.
A decade later, Belousov, a Putin loyalist known to back government spending to stimulate the economy, has taken up the Kremlin’s biggest challenge: overseeing the defence ministry as military spending soars above 7% of Russia’s GDP and the Kremlin prepares itself for a long war in Ukraine.
Sergei Shoigu was dismissed as Russia's defense minister after serving for 12 years. Vladimir Putin appointed Andrei Belousov as the new defense minister. Putin offered Shoigu a position as secretary of the national security council. The fate of Nikolai Patrushev, another trusted aide, is uncertain.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed economist Andrei Belousov as the new head of Russia’s military. Belousov will be helpful with solving some of Moscow’s major problems, such as balancing troops and workers, CNA’s Dmitry Gorenburg said.
The U.S. State Department says that Vladimir Putin's appointment of a new defense minister shows his desperation to sustain his invasion of Ukraine. On the ground, Ukrainian officials say some Russian soldiers have advanced across the Kharkiv region. Farther south, Donetsk is also locked in combat.
The death toll from ongoing flooding in Brazil has now risen to 147, with more than 100 people still missing and over 600,000 in the Southern state of Rio Grande do Sul still displaced. The death toll from a building collapse in Belgorod, Russian officials blame Ukrainian shelling.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed civilian economist Andrei Belousov as the new Defense Minister. Belousov’s appointment comes as defense spending surges and Putin prepares Russia for a long war in Ukraine. Putin has made a decision for a civilian to head the Defense Ministry due to the need for innovation and better arms supplies to the army.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed civilian economist Andrei Belousov as the new Defense Minister.
Belousov's appointment comes as defense spending surges and Putin prepares Russia for a long war in Ukraine.
Putin has made a decision for a civilian to head the Defense Ministry due to the need for innovation and better arms supplies to the army.
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The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about Putin appointing an economist as Russia's new defense minister. The author does not provide any counter-arguments or mention any potential drawbacks of this appointment. Additionally, the article uses emotional manipulation by implying that Putin is taking significant steps towards mobilizing the Russian economy and defense industrial base for a long war in Ukraine and possibly preparing for a future confrontation with NATO.
Analysts at the Washington-based think tank noted that Belousov’s lack of military experience is not anomalous given the fact that his predecessor Shoigu also had no prior experience. Instead, it was likely that the Kremlin intended Belousov to ‘integrate and streamline’ Russia’s defense industrial base with the country’s wider domestic economic policy.
Analysts say Russia’s fortunes in Ukraine might have prompted Putin to make the change now but the Kremlin also pointed to the need for adaptation and development, with Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov saying the appointment of a civilian to the defense ministry was rooted in a need for ‘innovation.’
The appointment of Belousov – a technocrat who has served in various roles in Russia’s government, including as minister of economic development and deputy prime minister – is being widely seen as a way to marry Russia’s immense defense needs with the booming war-oriented economy and military-industrial complex.
In 2014, Russia’s bloc of economic strategists was alarmed by Vladimir Putin’s decision to annex Crimea and foment a war in eastern Ukraine, leading to western condemnation and sanctions against Russia that were seen as potentially ruinous.
Andrei Belousov, a Putin loyalist known for backing government spending to stimulate the economy, has taken up the Kremlin’s biggest challenge: overseeing the defence ministry as military spending soars above 7% of Russia’s GDP and the Kremlin prepares itself for a long war in Ukraine.
Belousov is described as a highly competent official, a ‘number cruncher’ who stood out among officials for his attentive and hands-on approach to his work and for keeping a low profile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed economist Andrei Belousov as the new head of Russia’s military.
Andrei Belousov will help solve issues related to balancing troops and workers, keeping inflation down, and preparing for more Western sanctions in his new role as head of Russia’s military.
