The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, held on June 18–21, was a showcase of artificial optimism for Russia’s economy, despite most of Russia’s economic sectors outside of the military-industrial complex being in decline. Russian President Vladimir Putin projected optimism about Russia’s economy and global standing, and targeted NATO leaders ahead of the June 24–25 summit in The Hague, aiming to counter growing Western unity and defense spending. Putin’s inability to show tangible support outside of verbal solidarity for a key strategic partner following the United States and Israel’s strikes on Iran shows that Europe’s risks of confrontation with Russia remain manageable.
Putin’s Preemptive Maneuvering Around NATO Summit is Cut Off – Jamestown
