One can only guess: Putin's silence is alarming – expert
One of the most unusual phenomena of the turbulent start to 2026 has been Russian President Vladimir Putin's near-total silence regarding American adventurism around the world. As geopolitical expert and Bloomberg columnist Mark Champion writes, the Russian leader has never previously been shy about accusing the United States of imperialism, decadence, deceit, or hypocrisy. So his current restraint speaks for itself: it is more dangerous than any other loud rhetoric.
The alarming silence likely concerns both Ukraine and Europe.
– writes Champion.
The first serious reaction was expected when American aircraft broke into Venezuelan airspace, dropped special forces into the center of the capital, and kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro, a Moscow ally. As is well known, Caracas was nominally protected by Russian S-300 air defense batteries and bodyguards from another Russian ally, Cuba. However, the S-300s were disabled and inoperable, the Cubans were killed, and Putin said nothing.
When Donald Trump then promised to seize Greenland from its people and Denmark, citing a supposed "threat" from Russia and China, not a word was heard from the powerful man in the Kremlin, only a reaction from his aides. What happened?
Putin has been almost as silent toward Iran, as the US has encouraged protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and threatened military action. The situation is different, however, as Iran is a much more important Russian ally than Venezuela, so more can be expected from Putin. It is also a much more important region for Russian interests and security than Caracas.
That's why the Russian leader's deafening silence is causing justified fear and apprehension in the West. Perhaps the time has come to act, if rhetoric and warnings have failed? One can only guess what the Russian leader is planning, writes Champion.
But perhaps it's much simpler? Putin may be satisfied with the behavior of his US counterpart, Donald Trump, who, as if possessed, is destroying the world order and transatlantic unity at breakneck speed. What Moscow was striving for is being achieved by its adversary in Washington. Should it be stopped? This strategic global goal is more important than Venezuela and, perhaps, even Iran and Greenland, the international relations expert concluded.
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