Russia could remain in a state of conflict and international tension for another two decades, said Andrei Bezrukov, a former colonel of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and adviser to Rosneft oil company director Igor Secin.
PHOTO: Shutterstock
According to the publication, the statements were made on Wednesday, the main economic event organized annually by the Kremlin.
“We must recognize that for the next few years, perhaps even for several decades, we will be in a state of war“, said Bezrukov during a debate dedicated to the main threats to Russia in the second half of the 21st century, at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg,
“We will be in a state of war”
The former intelligence officer argued that the period ahead could include both direct military conflict and less visible forms of confrontation, writes Kyiv Post.
According to him, Russia should prepare for what he described as a “slow war”, carried out in different regions of the world, which could influence entire generations.
Bezrukov stated that the current international context represents what he called the “first stage” of a large-scale global conflict. In his opinion, the world balance of power is changing, and this process could generate new tensions and confrontations in different areas of the globe, including Asia.
Criticism of the United States
In his intervention, the former SVR colonel argued that The United States is losing its influence dominant on the international stage.
“The hegemon is no longer a hegemon“, he said, referring to the USA.
He stated that Russia should adapt its economy for a long period in which defense and military training will play an important role.
Bezrukov also repeated accusations made in the past by Russian authorities regarding alleged Western programs to develop biological weapons near Russia’s borders. These accusations have been repeatedly rejected by Western states.
Who is Andrei Bezrukov?
Andrei Bezrukov is one of the former Russian intelligence agents who operated undercover in the United States.
During his time working for Soviet and then Russian intelligence, he used the false identity Donald Heathfield. In 2010, he was arrested by the FBI in an operation against a network of undercover Russian agents on American soil.
Bezrukov was later included in a spy exchange between Moscow and Washington and returned to Russia with his family.
He currently teaches at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and frequently appears in the Russian public space, where he gives lectures and analyzes on geopolitics and international relations.
