Vladimir Putin touted Russian-made weapons to his foreign allies on Monday, saying they had proven themselves on the battlefield during the military intervention in Ukraine.
“We are ready to offer our allies and partners the most modern types of weapons, from infantry weapons to armored vehicles, including artillery, combat aviation or drones.said the Russian President.
“All over the world (these weapons) experts appreciate their reliability, quality and, above all, high efficiency. Almost all of them have been used many times in real combat conditions.“, he continued.
The head of the Kremlin made a speech on the first day of the week-long international arms fair in Kubinka, Moscow region, where about 1,500 participants are expected.
Russia had “many allies”.
Vladimir Putin assured that Russia “many allies“specifically referring to “trust linksIn Latin America, Asia and Africa. “These are states that do not bow to the so-called hegemony. Their leaders show true manhood“, he emphasized.
According to him, the training of foreign soldiers in Russia is also offered by “great prospects“. “Thousands of military specialists are proud to call our military schools and academies their alma mater– assured Vladimir Putin. He also invited Russia’s allies to participate in joint exercises with Moscow.
According to a report by the Stockholm Institute (Sipri), between 2017 and 2021, Russia was the second largest arms exporter, with 19% of the global market, figures that have, however, steadily declined in recent years, according to this source.
The fallout from Western sanctions against Russia in Ukraine threatens to further punish its arms industry, particularly by blocking its logistical and financial links. Russian weapons also use foreign components that are now unavailable for import.
Despite these difficulties, Dmitry Shugaev, director of Russia’s Federal Armaments Cooperation Agency, told Ria-Novost on Monday that Russia has signed new arms export contracts worth $16 billion in 2022, bringing its order book to $57 billion.
Source: Le Figaro
