The White House (via OMB) strongly protests Congressional efforts within the FY 2027 NDAA to prohibit the purchase of warships from foreign shipyards. The Administration argues that these restrictions undermine national security by limiting flexibility and hindering its strategy of leveraging allied yards, such as in the 'Finland model,' to drive investment into U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This signals a significant policy shift toward integrating international partners into advanced naval construction, suggesting the Pentagon is prepared to bypass traditional domestic build requirements for future combat vessels.
How the Russian Orthodox Church is recruiting for the Ukraine war – and alienating believers
English Summary
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has transitioned into a key recruitment and ideological tool for the Russian state, framing the invasion of Ukraine as a 'holy mission' to justify the conflict. The church utilizes military chaplains as front-line enforcers to prevent desertion while weaponizing 'traditional values' narratives to influence Western conservatives and undermine military aid to Ukraine. This aggressive alignment with the Kremlin is alienating domestic believers and leading to a decline in religious participation within Russia. Consequently, policymakers must recognize the ROC's role as a sophisticated soft-power instrument designed to exploit cultural divisions in the West.
中文摘要
俄羅斯正教會（ROC）已轉型為俄羅斯國家的關鍵招募與意識形態工具，將入侵烏克蘭定性為「神聖使命」以合理化該衝突。該教會利用隨軍牧師作為前線執行者以防止逃兵，同時將「傳統價值觀」敘事武器化，藉此影響西方保守派並削弱對烏克蘭的軍事援助。這種與克里姆林宮的積極結盟正使國內信徒感到疏離，並導致俄羅斯境內的宗教參與度下降。因此，政策制定者必須認識到俄羅斯正教會作為一種精密的軟實力工具，旨在利用西方的文化分歧。
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