By issuing a major military threat at an economic forum, Vladimir Putin is deliberately blurring the lines between commerce and conflict. The Vladivostok event was effectively turned into a war council, sending a powerful message that for Russia, economics is downstream from geopolitics.
Typically, leaders use such forums to reassure investors, announce deals, and promote an image of stability and predictability. They are venues for soft power and economic statecraft.
Putin, however, used the occasion for a display of hard power rhetoric. His declaration about “legitimate targets” was a calculated move to communicate that Russia’s security imperatives will always trump its economic interests. The implicit message to the international business community is clear: factor the risk of military escalation into your dealings with Russia.
This blurring of lines is a hallmark of Putin’s approach to statecraft. He does not separate the economy, diplomacy, and the military into different spheres; he views them all as integrated tools to be used in service of the state’s strategic objectives. The Vladivostok forum was a stark demonstration of this worldview in action.