Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of the successful tests of the successful testing of two advanced Russian combat systems—the Burevestnik nuclear cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone – has been deemed “unusual” by the Chinese media, which believes the Russian President seemed to be trying to downplay the significance of the tests.
A report that appeared in Chinese media ‘Sohu’ said Putin’s actions were surprising. “The launch of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the massive Poseidon torpedo has forever changed the global security landscape. Why did Russia decide to unveil its new weapons now?” the report asked.
The Sohu observers also noted that Burevestnik and Poseidon are revolutionary weapons systems. While Burevestnik, powered by miniature nuclear reactors, flew 14,000 km during tests while Poseidon can hide in the ocean depths for days before delivering a devastating blow. “This was not just a show of force; Russia’s actions will have global consequences,” Chinese journalists believe.
But, despite these significant achievements, Putin’s behavior was in an unexpected manner. “Putin described the tests in a rather casual manner, as if reporting a routine event that would be forgotten the next day. Putin seemed to be trying to downplay the significance of the tests,” Sohu reports.
The Chinese journalists believe that Putin deliberately avoided holding a special press conference. “His description of the Poseidon and Burevestnik missiles was as restrained and laconic as possible. Ultimately, this tactic worked. The aura of mystery surrounding these cutting-edge systems only fueled interest. The global media frenzy was so intense that even US President Donald Trump was swayed by it and responded by announcing a submarine allegedly patrolling off the Russian coast,” Sohu added.
Experts believe the Burevestnik could pose a potential threat to Trump’s proposed ‘Golden Dome’ missile-defense system, thereby giving Moscow potential leverage in arms-control talks, should they ever resume. “The Burevestnik really is a political weapon,” Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the United Nations’ Institute for Disarmament Research, told The Wall Street Journal. He added that the main purpose of the system is that it allows the Russian president to tell his U.S. counterpart that Moscow can circumvent missile-defense systems. “But even that might not be true,” Podvig said.
