The Missing Equilibrium

Stories are swirling about Putin rearming Iran’s defense — SU-35s reportedly en route, new MiG-29s already in the skies, and S-400s said to be standing guard. But when the next Israeli strike comes, these tales may prove to be nothing more than planted rumors — a clever setup to catch Iran completely off-guard. Many may see it differently, but history speaks for itself. During the 12‑day war, Putin openly declared Russia’s support for Israel over Iran — and that should’ve told us everything. So now, as a fresh wave of “rearmament” rumors floods the news, it’s hard not to question the timing. Something doesn’t add up — and anyone paying attention can feel that uneasy twist of déjà vu.

Technicalities: The Last Refuge of Strategic Evasion. In modern geopolitics, where optics often outweigh outcomes, Vladimir Putin has crafted a political persona that seems almost metaphysical—detached, untouchable, and immune to accountability. He has positioned himself as a figure above consequence, impervious to the shifting tides of global affairs, echoing more the composure of a saint than the urgency of a statesman. Against this cultivated detachment, it's hardly surprising that a series of geopolitical alarm bells failed to provoke meaningful recalibration from the Kremlin. For Putin, these were not indicators of systemic failure but mere background noise to his long-term vision—or detachment. From the 2008 invasion of Georgia, the Euromaidan uprising, mounting Western sanctions, the Syrian debacle, political assassinations, the tragic Kursk incident, to the wiping out of a significant portion. of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, the list of strategic missteps is long an...