Moscow Set On Selling More Weapons To Remain a Superpower
AFP: Moscow must develop and sell more sophisticated weapons to remain “a superpower,” Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov said Dec. 25.
”Our country cannot keep its status as a superpower on the basis of its territory and natural resources alone,” The Ria Novosti agency reported Ivanov as saying.
”We only have one solution: to create competitive products and conquer the international markets,” he added.
”A stable defense industry contributes to the development of related science industries and to the progression to an economy based on our raw materials and innovation,” the minister said.
President Vladimir Putin hailed Russia’s 2006 arms sales at the start of December which he said reached $6 billion and placed the country among the leading arms exporters in the world.
According to a U.S. Congressional report published in late November, Moscow signed arms contracts worth seven billion dollars in 2005 with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, a sharp increase from $5.4 billion in 2004.
The result made Russia the leading weapons exporter to emerging countries, ahead of France and the United States.
The ranking is largely the result of Russian sales to India, China and Iran.
This year, Russia has also signed large contracts with Algeria and Venezuela.
”Our country cannot keep its status as a superpower on the basis of its territory and natural resources alone,” The Ria Novosti agency reported Ivanov as saying.
”We only have one solution: to create competitive products and conquer the international markets,” he added.
”A stable defense industry contributes to the development of related science industries and to the progression to an economy based on our raw materials and innovation,” the minister said.
President Vladimir Putin hailed Russia’s 2006 arms sales at the start of December which he said reached $6 billion and placed the country among the leading arms exporters in the world.
According to a U.S. Congressional report published in late November, Moscow signed arms contracts worth seven billion dollars in 2005 with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, a sharp increase from $5.4 billion in 2004.
The result made Russia the leading weapons exporter to emerging countries, ahead of France and the United States.
The ranking is largely the result of Russian sales to India, China and Iran.
This year, Russia has also signed large contracts with Algeria and Venezuela.
posted by Marko at 12/28/2006 08:55:00 AM
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