How Putin undermines western democracy

The way we assess Putin and his geopolitical strategy is often too simplistic and superficial. In Western media, the Russian president is portrayed as a leader seeking territorial expansion under the guise of 'special military operations,' spreading lies to conceal his true intentions. But if we truly understand how he operates, we see that his approach is far more sophisticated: he exploits the weaknesses of Western democracy against us.

Strategic Manipulation and Disinformation
Putin is a master of distorting the truth. While figures like Trump appear transparent and impulsive in their lies and bluster, Putin operates with calculation and patience. Trained by the KGB and surrounded by a network of oligarchs and strategists, he has developed a methodology that allows him to infiltrate and weaken democracies without openly declaring war.

Consider how he has influenced Western societies through disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and political infiltration. From Brexit to the rise of populist movements like Forum for Democracy in the Netherlands, Putin's strategy is aimed at sowing division, undermining trust in governments, and destabilizing democratic structures.

Putin as the Dealer of Geopolitical Addiction
Compare Putin to a classic drug dealer: first, he supplies countries with cheap energy, making them dependent on Russian oil and gas, and once they are hooked, he pulls the plug. This dependency then becomes a tool of power. We saw this play out in Europe’s energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For years, European nations were lured by cheap Russian gas, while Putin strategically moved his chess pieces in the background.

The Infiltration of Western Politics
Russia has systematically funded and supported populist and extremist groups. Consider the leaked messages about the Russian ties of Forum for Democracy, revealing that this party was funded by influential Russian figures like Kornilov. This is no coincidence: the goal is to undermine trust in democratic institutions and create chaos within Western governments.

Populist parties have no interest in solving problems. They gain strength by fueling discontent, spreading conspiracy theories, and further polarizing society. This makes the political landscape unstable and plays perfectly into Putin’s strategy.

The Hidden Agenda: Revenge or Something Bigger?
Many analysts argue that Putin's actions stem from resentment over the collapse of the Soviet Union. But what if there is more at play? What if he is attempting to dismantle Western democracies in a cunning way by making them fight themselves using their own freedoms?

He deliberately exploits weak points: press freedom is misused for disinformation, freedom of speech becomes a weapon for spreading extremism, and free-market thinking is manipulated to enable economic blackmail.

What Can We Do?
It is time to become aware of these geopolitical manipulations and take preventive measures. This means:

• Stronger regulations on foreign interference in politics and media.

• Better control over disinformation and cyberattacks.

• Reducing economic dependence on authoritarian regimes.

• Education on digital resilience and media literacy so that citizens do not fall prey to propaganda.

The war Putin wages is not just a traditional war with tanks and missiles. It is a war of infiltration, manipulation, and destabilization. If we want to protect our democracies, we must understand that our freedoms are also our vulnerabilities—and that our enemies know this all too well.