Thread by @OAJonsson

The Russian security council just published their new National Security Strategy.

Here coms some reactions, questions-disguised-as-comments, guesstimates and other good stuff -->

1. RU is fearing the West for protecting their hegemony through aggravating Russian internal stability, destroying their economy, and traditional values.

All of this is known materia, but important to emphasize that RU internal problems are constructed as foreign efforts.

2. In this, however, the Kremlin are apparently feeling that they're doing well. They assert that "social cohesion is increasing" but that the increasingly need to protect moral values and social activity.

Sounds like a recipe for surveillance in my ears.

3. Russian leadership see a declining stability in the global monetary and financial system (!)

This needs to put in context with RU dropping all their dollar-holdings + increasing gold supply.

Broadly correct, but not seen among Western policynakers IMHO.

4. Some more reading on geoeconomic conflict.

https://twitter.com/OAJonsson/status/1400415883013537794?s=20

5. An even more on geoeconomic conflict.

https://twitter.com/OAJonsson/status/1401818246156886017?s=20

6. Needless to say, the Russian leadership see the threat of military force increasing.

7. Westerners are trying to dismember Russia's relation with other CIS states.

Funny. I thought Russia handled that perfectly fine by themselves...

8. Information confrontation is seen as a key part of confrontation, painting a negative image of Russia, weakening internal cohesion and ultimately creating colour revolutions.

All cover in my book, shameless plug right here. amazon.com/gp/product/162…

9. Unfriendly states are also using economic problems in Russia to further this and destroy its unity.

This includes sanctions in various forms as well as decreasing RU's general growth.

10. The NSS is CLEAR that they need to protect Russian society from "destructive information and psychological impact".

Just imagine the system needed to ensure that...

11. The good ol' stuff is still there with fear of a NATO military buildup and global missile defence.

12. Not sure this is a novelty, but the call for technological sovereignty is definitely a sign of the times (compare with the EU's call for digital and technological sovereignty).

13. Foreign intelligence and special services are interfering in internal stability and ultimately fomenting colour revolution (I kind a wrote it already, but if you read this far, I wanted to give you a repeat treat because it's important).

14. Public security is increased through improving road safety. Lada goes BRR.

15. Aha! The Kremlin is afraid of Big Tech (which normally plays along with the Kremlin).

The strategy warns of the monopoly of transnational corporations in controlling the internet (I thought it was CIA?) and information resources.

16. They're also noting the gap between traditional and digital economies. Which is just observing the world and the winners of the economy...

Not 17. A lot more fun stuff, but sadly need to take a break.

17. I see the economic part as the one that's changed the most. The NSS calls for:

-The need to decrease dollar dependence
-Strenthening the settlement system (compare with fear of de-swifting)
-Breaking up monopolies (foreign I assume).

Nice attack (roughly):

"Freedom of the individual is being absolutized, immorality and selfishness are being promoted, cult of violence, consumption and pleasure is being inculcated, drug use is legalized, and communities that deny natural continuation of life are being formed"

19. This one is a novelty though. Information and psychological sabotage together with Westernisation makes Russia loose its "cultural sovereignty".

20 Analysis - The NSS continues a lot of the trend that has been there for a while:

-Russia is under threat from countries trying to weaken them
-They use economic means, dollar dominance, sanctions and inducing bad growth in Russia
-->

21 Analysis - Information means are an essential part in sabotaging Russia psychologically, decreasing societal cohesion and breaking away friendly states from Russia.

This is a recurring idea, that is confirmed and strengthened.

22 Anaylsis. The NSS is superior to the other security documents and the military doctrine. As such, it is interesting to note that quite little attention was given to the military conflict, but only the token NATO, missile defence, and increasing threat of military force -->

23 Analysis. It seems that the political elites are a lot more afraid of colour revolutions that lead to regime change in Ukraine, that is ongoing in Belarus and that may threaten Russia, as well as domestic opposition seen to have foreign support.

24 Analysis. Russian strategists are thinking a lot about economic conflict, and are decreasing their reliance on the Western financial system by building alternatives to Swift, to Mastercard/Visa and by selling dollars and buying gold and cryptos --> forbes.com/sites/laurashi…

25. I've made a lot of these points in my book. Buy it or buy an ice cream. But if you buy an ice cream, post me a pic! amazon.com/gp/product/162…

26 Bonus. There was not that much about AI as hyped as it is (we've all heard enough of Putin's saying that leading AI will lead the world).

In my count, it was only mentioned three times only in positive terms such as increasing InfoSec and increasing labour productivity.

27 Bonus. Just wanted w to add this one too:

"Traditional Russian spiritual, moral and cultural-historical values are under active attack by the U.S. and its allies ...They exert an informational and psychological impact on social and moral attitudes"

28 Bonus. On the Russian percetion of Big Tech

"Global Internet companies are widely used to spread false information and organize illegal public actions"

Coherent with the new NSS 👆🏻👇🏻

https://twitter.com/andreisoldatov/status/1436281274348486658