global leadership travel

What is global leadership?

We live in an increasingly global world with fewer distinctions between borders. Everything from trade and finances to entertainment and culture quickly span the globe, making a Global Mindset a necessity for success. This extends to cultivating a Global Mindset and approach to leadership, especially if you want to distinguish yourself in today’s business world. 

Exactly what is global leadership, why is it important, and how can you set yourself up with the skills to be successful? Let’s take a closer look at these questions and the topic of global leadership as it applies to future business leaders.

Global leadership definition 

If you ask five people for their definition of global leadership, you are likely to receive five different answers all related to one’s ability to interact with diverse groups of people. 

While this is true, global leadership must go beyond interaction to the ability to influence individuals from diverse backgrounds. This distinction is the difference between a leader and a leader that effectively operates in a complex environment that spans national and cultural lines.

Global leadership requires developing a Global Mindset

Global leaders are next-generation leaders who expertly navigate the international landscape, create cross-culture connections, and foster growth for businesses and communities around the world. 

Global leading incorporates the traits of the traditional leader with a Global Mindset. Developing a Global Mindset starts with the ability to communicate a clear vision, think strategically, and inspire cooperation. To be a global leader, you must be able to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities that arise within a dynamic, international ecosystem. 

Skills needed to be an effective global leader

In addition to classic leadership skills, a global leader must:

• Think globally and fully understand the connected and interdependent nature of our world. 
• Have a deep understanding of global and regional business environments.
• Fully understand world markets, trends, and the connection between them. 
• Understand and develop strategies to overcome international challenges. 
• Understand how to identify and leverage international opportunities. 
• Recognize the importance of culture on business, human behavior, teamwork, work ethics, and goal setting.
• Expertly communicate with people from vastly different backgrounds, social norms, languages, and life experiences. 
• Actively listen and have empathy for those with a completely different worldview.
• Have strong organizational leadership skills. 

Why is global leadership important? 

The value of global trade increased to a record-breaking $7.7 trillion in the first quarter of 2022, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development . Global trade includes the trade of goods as well as services. This illustrates the growing interdependence between nations for the import and export of manufactured goods, skills, and services. 

It also demonstrates that as we continue to move in a global direction, more leaders that are equipped to handle the challenges that come with the territory are needed.

Leveraging cross-cultural business

Global leadership and the ability to leverage cross-cultural business will become increasingly vital for organizations and communities in years to come.

Global leaders will play a significant role in cultivating success for organizations of all kinds. For the business world, global leadership will make the difference between growth or losing ground to companies better equipped for the international landscape. This extends past the ability to navigate the obstacles of foreign business environments to a company’s success in using talent from around the world. 

What are the characteristics of a global leader?

A global point of view will be increasingly vital for understanding the marketplace, developing business strategies, identifying trends, and optimizing opportunities. A global leader must have the ability to communicate with others in a way that inspires action and cooperation. 

Cultivating these skills will require strategic thinking, the ability to solve complex problems, and the following characteristics:

• Resilience and flexibility
• Heightened self-awareness
• Comfort with uncertainty and change
• Adaptability in thought and action 
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity 
• Long-term thinking
• Open-mindedness 
• Ethical value 

Deep cultural knowledge is vital

Global leaders need to recognize and be sensitive to the strong ties that connect a country’s culture to its business practices, marketplace, and people. This requires an intimate understanding of a country’s culture and history. 

Being multilingual or having overseas experience in work, school, or travel is also valuable. While knowing how to speak other languages in business is helpful, even if you don’t, having deep cultural knowledge is vital. 

How do you prepare to be a global leader?

Global-minded leaders are needed sooner rather than later, which creates an interesting challenge for organizations and individuals alike. While global leadership is important and involves a unique skill set, the steps to obtain those skills might seem uncertain. Spending years traveling, learning languages, and looking for cross-cultural work opportunities can be effective, but may not be practical. 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prepare yourself to become a global leader, such as:

• Improve your world knowledge including geography, culture, and history. Pay special attention to the relationships between countries as this can have a significant impact on trade, business, and interpersonal communications.
• Consider learning a new language or learning basic language skills within several languages. You do not have to become fluent to benefit, even learning the basics can provide deeper knowledge and appreciation for the language and culture.
• Consume media from around the world to expand your viewpoint of world events, everyday happenings, and cultural norms. This can include news, television, movies, music, and podcasts.
• Read books and articles that focus on general leadership and global leadership topics.
• Work on your communication skills including interpersonal communication, cross-cultural communication, and conflict resolution.
• Travel abroad and be sure to incorporate some non-tourist activities into your itinerary to  get a better feel for the people and culture of the area.
• Look for local opportunities to engage with communities that represent a broad range of cultures. 

Education for future global leaders

Education is the most direct path to acquiring management, leadership, a Global Mindset, and global leadership skills. A well-rounded educational program can provide you with learning opportunities and exposure to a wide range of skills necessary for the global leaders of tomorrow. 

Get started by learning more about Thunderbird School of Global Management’s Master of Global Management (MGM) . 

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Visit Global Leadership Adventures (GLA)'s website to learn more about their programs abroad

Global Leadership Adventures (GLA)

Top projects.

With a history and heritage in global education, GLA packs itineraries with leadership development, volunteering and the delight of taking learning off the beaten path. Our unique program design produces what many students call a life-changing experience.

GLA provides high school students the opportunity to authentically discover another culture, safely engage in high adventure and participate in grassroots service projects that directly impact global communities.

The long-term partnerships we have developed with local individuals, community leadership and action-oriented organizations continue to be the backbone of our programs.Helping them deliver sustainable impact while transforming the way we look at the world and ourselves is what gets us fired up every day at GLA.

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• Dominican Republic

285 Participant reviews

Rebekah olsen.

15 Aug 2022

My 16-year-old son recently completed GLA's service travel program to Hawaii, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The GLA website provided very thorough and clear information... Read more

My 16-year-old son recently completed GLA's service travel program to Hawaii, and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The GLA website provided very thorough and clear information leading up to the trip. When we did have questions, the GLA staff was responsive and knowledgeable. During the trip, my son enjoyed the service and travel activities out in the community as well as the social interaction with the leaders and other teens on the trip. As a parent, I truly appreciated the student-written blog updates which allowed those of us at home to read about and see pictures of the daily activities. When my son came home, he could not stop talking about all of the experiences he had with a wonderful group of people. He made forever memories and experienced growth while he was away. I would highly recommend this program to others!

Andrea Mulholland

My son's experience with GLA was incredible. He made many new friends, gained some independence and felt that he was making a difference in the world. As a parent, sending... Read more

My son's experience with GLA was incredible. He made many new friends, gained some independence and felt that he was making a difference in the world. As a parent, sending our son so far away was a bit unnerving at first, but the information we received and all of the resources we were provided with helped to put us at ease. He (and now our daughter) plan to do another program next summer. Amazing experience.

Sonya Carnes

My daughter’s experience with GLA was amazing from start to finish. Pre departure, staff was easy to reach and happily answered all of our questions. I felt the trip was... Read more

My daughter’s experience with GLA was amazing from start to finish. Pre departure, staff was easy to reach and happily answered all of our questions. I felt the trip was extremely well organized and my daughter had an absolutely transformative experience. The leaders and mentors were excellent and the program provided the perfect balance of service, sight seeing and cultural activities. She returned home energized, full of insights and confidence, and excited to pursue a career in health care. The communication through the daily blogs during the trip offered a wonderful window into what she was experiencing and I felt confident that she was in good hands. I highly recommend GLA!

21 Jul 2022

Our introverted son had an amazing time! His group did community service work on a playground for the local children. Their work included painting, digging, planting, laying sod, putting up... Read more

Our introverted son had an amazing time! His group did community service work on a playground for the local children. Their work included painting, digging, planting, laying sod, putting up a fence, etc. They had many fun excursions like zip-lining, river rafting, surfing, shopping, sight-seeing, etc. They had smaller group sessions for Spanish lessons and practiced speaking Spanish with the locals. It was so nice to hear/see our son relaxed, happy, and carefree. We were impressed with how organized, accessible, helpful and prompt every GLA staff member was, from the moment we attended open house to the registration process/portal, packing/preparing for the trip and throughout the entire duration of program. There is a wealth of information on the GLA website and portal. During the program, we were able to follow their activities and see photos on a blog that is written by the students on a regular basis. We love that GLA promotes independence, leadership, and the importance of community service and team work in our teens. Thank you to the entire GLA staff for a wonderful experience and for all of your hard work and dedication!!

Summer Volunteer Program in Tanzania: Heart and Soul of Africa

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Summer in south africa: social entrepreneurship initiative™.

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Global Leadership Adventures students dancing in Tanzania.

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GLOBAL LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

We're a network of Global Leadership Adventures program alumni, staff, partners, friends and family who care deeply about creating positive change in our world.

Our Mission

The mission of GLA International Foundation is to support grassroots organizations engaged in meaningful community or conservation projects overseas, and to make grants available to students of diverse backgrounds to participate in Global Leadership Adventures service-learning programs abroad.

The GLA International Foundation funds projects that are:

• are action-oriented
• are part of a community-led initiative
• are designed by our longtime service partners
• build public involvement and support
• focus on root causes
• accomplish specific goals and objectives

THREE MEANINGFUL WAYS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

• Learning AFAR Fund
• Community Partner Fund
• Need-Based Scholarship Fund

Explore each fund and contribute a donation to whichever one speaks most to you.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Let’s shift the conversation from awareness to action

The Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation funds community-led, international development work as well as need-based scholarships for young people without the resources to travel.

Global Leadership Adventures created the GLA International Foundation to be a year-round channel for direct action to support the community led initiatives our students become passionately involved in each spring break and summer.

Because GLA covers all overhead costs, 100% of every donation to our Foundation goes directly to important development work happening around the world.

THREE EXCEPTIONAL FUNDS YOU CAN DONATE TO

• Donation Homepage
• Donate to the Community Partner Fund
• Donate to the General Fund
• Donate to the Learning AFAR Fund
• Donate to the Need-Based Scholarship Fund

Your donation is appreciated and 100% of the funds you donate go toward our causes.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE

Fund work that is action-oriented, community-led and focuses on root causes

Our organization.

Teens can make a difference. And you can, too.

GLAIF came to fruition at the request of Global Leadership Adventures’ program alumni. Returning from international service-learning programs, these teens were determined to find a way to continue to make change in communities around the globe by supporting locally driven projects from afar.

GLAIF, a non profit 501c3 organization, is a platform which allows these young leaders the opportunity to stay actively involved in the causes they became so passionate about during their GLA experience.

GLAIF aims to build a network of globally minded alumni, staff, partners, friends and family who are passionate about community led development and offers a way to transform this passion into action.

Questions? Ideas?

Contact the Foundation at [email protected]

HELP TEENS TRAVEL OVERSEAS

Your contribution to the Learning AFAR Fund can be a gamechanger!

Learning afar fund spotlight.

Travel is the best form of education for young people.

Through the Global Leadership Adventures International Foundation’s partnership with Learning AFAR, we were able to run a memorable service-learning program in Ghana, West Africa for teens from New Orleans, whose fathers had passed or were incarcerated, and would otherwise not be able to attend a travel abroad program.

Students were able to travel through grants provided by the foundation’s Learning AFAR Fund, and all their travel expenses were covered to ensure these teens had an exceptional experience in Ghana.

Check out this unforgettable video on YouTube that follows that story of one of our student travelers, Malik, as he heads from his hometown in New Orleans to West Africa for a life-changing experience.

Want to donate to this fund?

Click here to contribute to GLAIF’s Learning AFAR Fund and make a difference in the lives of young people who would not be able to have this kind of program experience otherwise.

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“This program introduced me to a new way of life and opened my eyes to new cultures. I opened myself up to people in a way I never imagined possible for myself.” - Student, La Jolla Country Day School, Belize Program

“Our partnership with World Leadership School was transformative not only for myself as a leader, but also for my team of educators. The approach of bringing educators in to the conversation as to how they can be part of a global change within a school setting and through the curriculum per which they design is brilliant.” - Colleen O'Boyle, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs, La Jolla Country Day School

“Our partnership with the team at World Leadership School has been invaluable to the growth of ParishAbroad, our Global Education Program. Program logistics, risk management, marketing and curriculum are all areas where they have helped our program grow and evolve. They are a true partner in both purpose and mission.” - Rick Dunn, Director of ParishAbroad, Parish Episcopal School

“This was one of the best trips I have ever taken with students. I’ve been on a WLS program before, so I had high expectations, but this program blew me away. I am a HUGE fan of WLS’s vision and values.” - Scott Martin, Ph.D., Executive Director, Odyssey Leadership Academy

“Student travel is not an end, but a means for helping schools transform learning, alongside educator development and school consulting. We measure our ultimate impact based on the change we see in classroom learning.” - Ross Wehner, WLS Founder

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Our Collaborative Leadership Programs immerse students and faculty in life-changing travel experiences focused on global issues and leadership. During these 10-21 day programs, participants immerse themselves in a rural community, get pushed off balance, and work alongside local students and community leaders to see things from new perspectives. This approach of “disconnect, decenter, and re-envision” is the foundation of our approach at World Leadership School. In certain countries, we offer two additional program types: NGO Partnerships, where students learn from innovative NGO leaders, and TeachUNITED Partnerships, where students work inside schools as part of TeachUNITED’s innovative efforts to “partner with rural schools to transform teaching and learning.”

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Learning to teach in the 21st century is not about incremental skills development. It’s a mindset shift that requires new approaches to teaching. At World Leadership School, we help teachers use Project-Based Learning and other student-driven approaches in order to create vibrant learning environments. We work with teachers through Educator Development Travel Programs, where teachers embark on journeys of learning and discovery; In-Service Workshops, where we work with faculty groups around Project-Based Learning, global education, or purpose-based learning; and our Virtual Coaching Institute, where we offer one-on-one coaching to help educators create and deliver new learning experiences. We also offer Trip Leader Trainings, where faculty develop risk management and other skills for leading a safe and meaningful travel program. When properly coached and inspired, teachers can transform schools with their ideas and energy.

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Through our consulting, we help schools develop global education programs that transform learning throughout the school. In our view, authentic global education is another name for the broad shift towards student-centered learning environments that emphasize student voice, collaboration, technology, and real-world experience. We believe that strategic planning should be a creative process that brings together faculty and other thought leaders across the community to envision new ideas. We believe that teachers need to drive school change initiatives, and the role of the administration is to provide vision, resources, and support. Once we have a vision in place, we help schools develop possible program components, including global diploma certificates, classroom curriculum, travel programs, and faculty training. We also help school leaders understand the basic building blocks of risk management through our Risk Management Workshops.

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Global travel industry trends 2024: Travelers become master planners 

So far in 2024, the global travel industry is seeing a significant resurgence, accompanied by a noticeable trend: People are becoming more skilled at planning their trips and are mastering the art of travel.  

Equipped with a wealth of online tools, these travelers are tailoring their itineraries to ensure enriching experiences at maximum value. Resources like AI assistants to one-stop-shop booking platforms empower travelers to curate highly personalized getaways.  

To understand the state of global travel in 2024, we analyzed Criteo’s dataset from hundreds of travel players and results from a survey of 10,000+ travelers globally. These are the trends that will help advertisers adapt to this year’s evolving landscape.  

1. People are surfing the travel surge.

Across all major regions, bookings for air travel soared by double digits year-over-year during the first quarter of 2024, signaling a robust boost in travel for the upcoming months. Air bookings rose +14% in EMEA, +13% in APAC, and +10% in the Americas YoY.  

Anticipate a surge in personal getaways this spring and early summer. According to Criteo’s survey, more people around the world plan to travel for leisure or visit friends/family in the next 1-3 months.  

2. AI and booking sites offer algorithmic adventures.

In the past 6 months, more travelers are finding AI tools useful for recommendations—especially for dining experiences, accommodations, and activities. This shift is the strongest among travelers in South Korea, with a 6-point growth when comparing Q3 2023 and Q1 2024.

The adoption of AI tools by travelers is also gaining momentum in Europe. More travelers in Germany (+4 points), France (+4 points), and the UK (+3 points) said they found AI tools useful over the same period.

Throughout the online booking journey, travelers are also open to suggestions from travel providers. Half of travelers around the world (48%) get inspiration from travel booking sites.

3. People value personal travel advice.

While assistance from AI and travel booking websites influence the planning journey, travelers still prefer word-of-mouth suggestions. A full 61% of travelers globally said that recommendations from family and friends is a strong decision-making factor. Over one-third of people globally also find inspiration from personal travel content sites like blogs.

Positive reviews are another highly influential factor and are gaining traction. When choosing a travel provider, two-thirds of travelers globally consider positive reviews. This was up 8 points in Q1 2024 compared to in Q3 2023.

4. Travelers are finding ways to adapt to rising costs.

In Q1 2024, 25% of travelers around the world said they spent more on travel within the last six months compared to the same period a year prior.

Rising costs were felt most by travelers in France (+13 points), Japan (+11 points), and South Korea (+8 points).  

To secure better travel deals, 38% of people globally said they have or would consider changing the timing of their trips. This trend is even more pronounced among travelers in Japan, where 52% are open to adopting this strategy.  

One in four travelers worldwide also plan to save money by engaging in fewer activities and opting for more affordable dining experiences. A third of US travelers will also leverage rewards from loyalty programs.  

While many travelers aim to cut costs, a growing portion are embracing higher expenditures . A striking 75% of those who spent more on travel in the last six months also splurged on non-essential costs like luxury goods, dining out, health and beauty products, and apparel and accessories.   

5. Booking everything from one source offers convenience.

Half of travelers compare multiple (3+) travel providers in search of the best deals.   

However, many people prefer to book all travel services from a single source for added convenience and ease of coordination. Three in five travelers globally booked all aspects of their most recent trip—such as flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities—through a single platform, website, app, or provider.

6. Mobile helps travelers embrace their spontaneity.

Travelers enjoy having the freedom to make spur of the moment decisions. Nearly 1in 5 opt to leave some bookings for mid-trip. US travelers lead in flexibility, with 77% stating they booked most aspects of their trip right before departure.   

Booking while on-the-go is also popular. In the Americas and EMEA, the share of air travel bookings completed on mobile devices increased by 8 points in March 2023 compared to March 2024. Similarly, there was a 6-point increase in APAC.  

Source: Organic Criteo Data. Americas Travel Partners. Comparing March Bookings in 2023 vs 2024. Desktop and Mobile included, App and Tablet included in Mobile, sample permitting.  

Embark on your advertising odyssey  

Capturing the attention of travelers demands a highly personalized approach. By crafting ads that directly address their needs and interests—like discounts, loyalty rewards, destination ideas, and activity recommendations—advertisers can boost engagement and bookings.  

Given that travelers explore multiple options before making a purchase, a retargeting strategy also helps keeps users engaged until they decide where to go and what they want to experience on their next trip. Meanwhile, retention campaigns can encourage stronger lifetime value as existing travel customers tend to have higher spend compared to first-time buyers.   

For more global travel trends, read our full report, Travel Insights: Unpacking the Landscape of the Escape Industry and register for immediate access to our on-demand webinar.

Discover why 19,000+ global clients trust Criteo as their preferred advertising partner.

Elizabeth Kim is a Global Content Strategist captivated by technology, culture, and consumer behavior. Before joining the world of adtech, Elizabeth crafted brand and content strategies at agencies for clients spanning startups to household name giants. Outside of work, Elizabeth finds creative ...

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Are there Gap Year Alternatives for High School Students?

Get a Life-Changing Experience in 3 Weeks Instead of an Entire Year:

• Experience a new country and its culture in only a couple of weeks
• Avoid scheduling conflicts! You can keep your school year schedule
• Journey to Africa, Asia, Latin America, or The Caribbean  and still graduate on-time
• Save money! GLA is all-inclusive, except for airfare and travel documents
• Make friends from around the world - including the US, UK, and Canada

Travel Abroad: Summer Programs vs. Gap Year

Taking a gap year before college often isn't possible due to the constraints fo the school year schedule, especially for ambitious high school students who want to graduate on-time and attend the college of their choice. Instead, summer break offers a wonderful opportunity to spend a few weeks on an international adventure without upending all your plans.

While on a GLA program , you'll not only be exposed to a new culture and language, you'll also get to participate in a meaningful service project. By volunteering in the community where you'll be living for 10 days to 3 weeks, you'll forge connections to local people better than you would as a tourist on most gap year programs. Plus, you'll be around people your age who share your interests in travel and giving back. Exciting new adventures await you - so what are you waiting for?

Global Leadership Adventures is a division of Terra Education, a leader in the field of international service learning. Terra also operates Discover Corps, one to two week volunteer vacations for adults and families, in collaboration with the National Peace Corps Association.

GLA Flagship Programs

Although many of the same objectives can be achieved on shorter programs, students and parents report that three weeks is the optimal time to develop lifelong friendships with local people and fellow students, to make a greater impact on the community, to fully immerse themselves in a culture, and to explore different facets of the host country.

Amex Global Business Travel Sees Big Gains From Tech Customers

Dennis Schaal , Skift

May 7th, 2024 at 4:52 PM EDT

Big companies are on the move again, but the business travel growth engine — small- to medium-sized businesses — took a step back because of high interest rates and inflation.

Dennis Schaal

Much of the discussion about business travel revolves around large corporations that have strict managed-travel policies. They require employees to book trips through sanctioned tools and at hotels and airlines that give corporations volume discounts.

In the first quarter, those corporations delivered significant gains for American Express Global Business Travel, the world’s largest travel-management company.

AmexGBT saw strength in transactions from global multinational corporations — tech companies in particular, with 30% growth. Other sectors turned in double-digit growth too, including pharmaceuticals, mining, energy and utilities.

But there was a downside: Small- to medium-sized businesses offer the largest opportunity in winning new business and they showed a decline in transaction growth of 3 percentage points in the fourth and first quarters.

These smaller businesses spend $30 million or less on travel annually and mostly let their employees book wherever they want.

They may not need a travel management company like Amex GBT. What’s more, they’ve been hit hard in recent months by higher inflation and interest costs, leading to tighter travel budgets.

Amex GBT CEO Paul Abbott told analysts during the earnings call Tuesday that of the $900 billion in total transaction value in play in business travel annually, “$300 billion sits with, if you like, professional managed-travel programs, and $600 billion in unmanaged.”

The entire business travel market is worth $1.4 trillion, he said, and “SME is the biggest opportunity within that.”

Amex GBT Is Poised to Acquire CWT in the Second Half of 2024

The earnings call took place with some unfinished business on the agenda — the $570 million acquisition of CWT , which officials said is poised to close in the second half of 2024.

Abbott said the companies’ integration teams are “established.”

He said the acquisition would increase company revenue by one-third and it would have the potential to be a “significant” contributor to earnings in the long run. There would be $155 million in “annual run rate cost synergies,” Abbott said. Meaning layoffs and trimming other redundant operations.

American Express Global Business Travel stated that a recent survey of its top 100 customers found they expect their travel spend to rise 8% in 2024.

Net Loss Narrowed, Positive Free Cash Flow

In the first quarter, the company narrowed its net loss to $19 million from a loss of $27 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 6% in the first quarter to $610 million.

One of the brighter metrics was that free cash flow hit $24 million in the first quarter, up from minus $109 million a year earlier.

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Ukraine war latest: 'Astonishing' Putin reshuffle points to 'serious instability' in Russian leadership, ex-MI6 officer says

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu is set to be replaced more than two years into the war, in a major shakeup of Vladimir Putin's cabinet.

Sunday 12 May 2024 23:13, UK

• Russian defence minister and long-time Putin ally Sergei Shoigu to be replaced
• Ivor Bennett analysis: More going on here than meets the eye - and Shoigu's replacement speaks volumes
• Reshuffle points to 'serious instability' at heart of Russian leadership, ex-MI6 officer says
• More than 4,000 civilians have fled Kharkiv region after Friday morning's surprise attack by Putin's military  
• Eyewitness: Deborah Haynes reports from town 'flattened' in offensive
• Analysis:  Russia's attack in Kharkiv region not a complete surprise - but the force of it is

We're ending our live updates on the Ukraine war and Vladimir Putin's surprise reshuffle for this evening.

Scroll through the blog to read the latest updates from today.

As we've been reporting, Vladimir Putin has proposed a reshuffle which will see longstanding defence minister Sergei Shoigu replaced with civilian Andrei Belousov.

It's a name we haven't heard much through the war, but as defence minister he'll become a key figure.

So who is Andrei Belousov? Here's a quick explainer...

The 65-year-old graduated from the Faculty of Economics of the Moscow State University in 1981 with distinction.

He was appointed a non-staff adviser to the Russian prime minister in 2000 and joined the economy ministry in 2006. Between 2008 and 2012 he served as director of the economics and finance department under Vladimir Putin.

Mr Belousov was appointed economics minister in 2012, and then served as adviser to the Russian president from 2013 to 2020.

After this he was deputy prime minister - bar a brief period where he served as prime minister when Mikhail Mishustin contracted COVID in 2020.

Unlike previous defence ministers Mr Belousov does not have a military background. He's believed to be close to Mr Putin.

Sergei Shoigu being moved to Russia's Security Council signals that Vladimir Putin sees the institution as a political holding space, according to a Russian political analyst.

Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in a piece online that the council was becoming a "reservoir for Putin's 'former' key figures - people who he can't let go, but doesn't have a place for".

In posts to X, Ms Stanovaya also said Andrei Belousov was a "logical choice" as Mr Putin looks to enhance arms production and meet military needs.

But she said despite the "surprising" reshuffles, which she claimed are not at an end, the Russian leadership's "overall policy and decision-making mechanisms will remain unchanged".

By Ivor Bennett , Moscow correspondent

This has come as a huge surprise. Not one, but two key figures in Russia's leadership structure sacked simultaneously.

It suggests there's a lot more going on inside the Kremlin than meets the eye.

Sergei Shoigu is a very close Putin ally and has been for years. So why replace him?

Clearly Putin is unhappy with the direction of the war. This coincides with Russia's attempt to open up a new front in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. New directions and new leadership - Putin's ringing the changes.

Shoigu's successor speaks volumes. Andrei Belousov is an economist. A technocrat. Not an obvious choice to run the military, but this underlines where Putin's concerns are right now ("how much longer can I afford the war?").

Russia's entire economy is geared towards the military right now. He wants to ensure it's operating as efficiently as possible, so his war can continue.

Shoigu moves to the Security Council, where he'll replace Nikolai Patrushev. Technically it's a more important role, but in reality it’s a demotion. More importantly, by replacing Patrushev, it gives Putin more command over a powerful body within Russia's leadership structure. The Security Council was seen by some as a pseudo shadow cabinet. He'll now have an ally in post, albeit a disgruntled one.

Finally, to me, this speaks to Putin's confidence right now. The start of the new presidential term, he's clearly emboldened. But it also screams instability.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told reporters this evening that announcing a new defence minister makes sense as Russia's military spending balloons.

He said Russia was heading towards a situation similar to that of the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s, when 7.4% of Russia's GDP went on the military and law enforcement.

Mr Peskov said this is why Vladimir Putin wanted to hand the position to a civilian with an economic background.

"The one who is more open to innovations is the one who will be victorious on the battlefield," he said.

Vladimir Putin has likely grown frustrated with Russia's overall lack of progress in the war despite its current momentum on the battlefield, a Russian foreign policy analyst has said.

Ivan Klyszcz, from the International Centre for Defence and Security, said the "entire Kremlin" is focused on winning the war and the reshuffle should be "read in that light".

He told Sky News the Kremlin has a tendency to replace senior officials some time after a failure or defeat, or after they haven't performed at a certain level.

"With Shoigu that's part of the story. It has to do with... some of the defeats that Russia has faced in the battlefront in 2022 and lack of progress in the war for them in 2023."

Mr Klyszcz says that Mr Shoigu has been in a "weak position" for some time.

UK defence minister Grant Shapps has reacted to the news of Vladimir Putin's cabinet shakeup.

In a post to X, Mr Shapps says Sergei Shoigu has "overseen over 355,000 casualties" among Russian soldiers and caused mass suffering in Ukraine.

"Russia needs a Defence Minister who would undo that disastrous legacy & end the invasion - but all they’ll get is another of Putin’s puppets," he said.

This is not just a normal reshuffle but "serious instability right in the heart" of Russia's regime, a former MI6 intelligence officer has said.

Speaking to Sky News, Christopher Steele said Nikolai Patrushev being removed from his role as secretary of the Russian Security Council is "astonishing".

"It's important to understand that he's been one of Putin's closest allies, former head of the FSB and so on for many years... and was rated by people to be probably the second most powerful man in Russia after Putin himself. 

"I think what this indicates is not just a reshuffle along normal governmental lines. It's really quite serious instability right in the heart of this regime," he said.

Mr Steele says it has been "clear" to Russia watchers for some time that Mr Patrushev was lining up his son Dmitri, the current agriculture minister, to be Mr Putin's successor.

"I think that this is, as I say, a very significant move by Putin," he added.

'Something much deeper' going on

Asked why Mr Putin would remove Mr Shoigu as defence minister at a time when Russia appears to have the upper hand in the war, Mr Steele says it could point to something "much deeper" happening.

"It's hardly ideal from a military point of view to replace your defence minister right at the time when you're launching a new offensive," he explained.

"This underlines to me that there is something much deeper going on here."

Mr Steele also characterised Mr Shoigu's switch to the Security Council as a "demotion" - but reiterated that Mr Patrushev, a member of the Russian president's inner circle, being moved to an unknown position was "extraordinary".

Sergei Shoigu's removal has "first and foremast come as a surprise", says our Moscow correspondent Ivor Bennett .

Mr Shoigu has been part of the cabinet, and Vladimir Putin's cohort, for a "very long time", he says.

Bennett says his position came under threat last year as the late Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin.

"But when he was seen off, when that coup was seen off, Prigozhin died.... Sergei Shoigu's position seemed a lot stronger, actually," he says.

"He emerged from that crisis stronger, as did Vladimir Putin."

Bennett explains that Mr Putin has, by law, to dissolve his government as he starts his new presidential term.

"We were expecting a new cabinet, but I don't think we were expecting such a big change at the top. 

"I think that reflects a few different things. First and foremost, I think Vladimir Putin... feels like he needs to do something new, certainly symbolically within the the war context," Bennett says.

Analysts say Vladimir Putin is looking to project an image of stability and satisfaction with his team's progress, with Mikhail Mishustin remaining in post as prime minister on Friday.

As he continues to confirm his top team, Mr Putin has also proposed Sergei Lavrov remain as foreign minister.

Valery Gerasimov, the chief of Russia's general staff, will remain in his position as well.

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