Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrei I. Nikolayev addressed an AFPC dinner of U.S. and Russian defense policy-makers on May 16, offering a look at the changed military thinking behind newly-inaugurated President Vladimir Putin.
Nikolayev, former Commander of the Russian Border Guard Troops and former Director of the Russian Border Guard Service, offered his frank views of Russian aspirations and of U.S. intentions.
With AFPC, as well as with a long and productive session with the Senate Armed Service Committee, Nikolayev made clear his sharp opposition to the U.S building a defense against ballistic missiles. He represents a rising tendency in both the Russian armed forces and in a significant stratum of the Russian political elite.
Nikolayev was in Washington as chief of a Duma Defense Committee delegation under the auspices of the Russian Leadership Program (RLP), sponsored by the Library of Congress. AFPC coordinates the congressional part of RLP.