Putin restructures military leadership: Belousov, new Minister of Defense

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a strategic shift in his military policy by appointing Andrey Belousov, a 65-year-old technocrat with experience in economic affairs, as the new Minister of Defense. Belousov, who previously served as an economic advisor and deputy prime minister, replaces Sergei Shoigu, a 68-year-old veteran who held the position since 2012 and will now become the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia. Shoigu's dismissal, one of Putin's closest allies, could be seen as a reflection of frustration with the results of the war in Ukraine. Belousov's appointment has generated different interpretations in the political and military spheres. Some analysts suggest that his designation is aimed at strengthening state control over the economy, especially in the military-industrial complex. According to Tatyana Stanovaya, founder of the political consultancy R.Politik, this could be compared to the historic Soviet state planning system known as 'Gosplan'. It has also been mentioned that Putin may have been inspired by the figure of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who implemented reforms to improve efficiency in military procurement during the Vietnam War. The dismissal of Shoigu, a key figure in Russian military policy and close to Putin, has been linked to possible failures in the conflict in Ukraine, which has lasted longer than expected and has resulted in a high human cost in terms of Russian casualties. Amid this context, there have been reports of Russian troops making advances in an offensive in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, prompting a strong response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has described the situation as "extremely difficult". Putin's new foreign policy strategy includes a trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping, emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the two countries in the context of economic sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies. Internally, the Russian president has made various changes in his cabinet, with close figures such as Sergei Lavrov at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Alexander Bortnikov leading the FSB security service. These movements suggest a reorganization at the governmental and military levels to strengthen Russia's position on the international stage. The increase in Russian military spending, which is at historically high levels compared to the Cold War era, reflects Putin's current priority to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. The focus on a "war economy" approach with Belousov's appointment as Minister of Defense aims to maximize the impact of financial resources allocated to the country's defense. The ongoing transformation in the Russian economy aims to improve coordination between the military and civilian sectors to address external challenges and threats. In summary, the appointment of Andrey Belousov as the new Minister of Defense in Russia marks a significant change in the country's military strategy, with a renewed focus on economic efficiency and coordination between the military and civilian sectors. Putin seeks to strengthen Russia's position on the international stage and address current geopolitical challenges in a context marked by regional conflicts and tensions with foreign powers. Putin's next moves will be crucial in defining the course of Russia's foreign and defense policy in the coming years.