17. 8. 2023

This episode of The IR thinker examines the role of Nikolai Patrushev inside the Kremlin, focusing on his position within Russia’s Security Council, his long relationship with Vladimir Putin and his influence over the country’s security and foreign policy. The conversation explores Patrushev’s FSB legacy, his rivalry and cooperation with figures such as Sergey Naryshkin, his anti Western worldview and conspiracy narratives, and the vulnerabilities that accompany his power.

Mark Galeotti

Mark Galeotti is a British historian, lecturer and writer who specialises in transnational crime and Russian security affairs. He is director of the consultancy Mayak Intelligence, honorary professor at the UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and an associate fellow in Euro Atlantic geopolitics at the Council on Geostrategy. His commentary has appeared in outlets such as The Spectator, The Moscow Times and Foreign Affairs.

Publications:

Nikolai Patrushev, the man dripping poison into Putin’s ear

The Vory

Putin’s Wars

Content

00:00 - Introduction
02:11 - An Overview of Russia’s Security Council
05:01 - How Transparent is the Security Council?
06:19 - The Patrushev-Putin Connection
09:52 - Russia’s Triad of Power Sources
13:04 - Patrushev’s Sons
15:00 - Tracing Patrushev’s Legacy in the FSB
17:42 - Diving into Patrushev’s Security Acumen
19:45 - The Dynamics between Patrushev and Sergey Naryshkin
22:24 - Is There a Challenger to Patrushev’s Influence?
26:48 - Navigating Patrushev’s Role in Russian Foreign Policy
31:15 - Has Lavrov Stepped Back for Patrushev to Lead?
33:17 - Decoding Patrushev’s Anti-Western Stance
38:46 - Unravelling Patrushev’s Conspiracy Narratives
41:40 - Patrushev’s Counter-strategies against the West: A Look at Public Intelligence
47:21 - Exploring Patrushev’s Vulnerabilities
50:52 - Patrushev’s Diplomatic Outreach: Can He Forge Alliances for Russia?