Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a record-breaking defense budget, setting aside a third of the government’s total spending. Ret. Lt. General Mark Hertling and the Defense and Security Department president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Seth Jones join CNN’s Erin Burnett to discuss.
Putin's Military Strategy
🇷🇺Putin's record-breaking defense budget, allocating one-third of Russia's total spending, signals unwavering commitment to military goals despite ongoing peace negotiations.
🌍Russia's military faces unprecedented challenges, with forces spread across continents, an economy in freefall, and casualties 4-5 times higher than all post-WWII wars combined.
Syrian Conflict
🇸🇾The unexpected fall of Aleppo to rebels, for the first time since the war began, has stunned both Putin and Assad, potentially jeopardizing Russia's Mediterranean influence.
Global Implications
🌐Putin's military disarray and decreased allied support create a perilous moment, impacting Russia's global strategy and regional influence.
Assad's Regime
👥Bashar al-Assad's grip on power in Syria weakens as rebels storm Aleppo and topple family statues, adding to Putin's mounting challenges.