According to President Vladimir Putin, Russia wants to arm its partner countries in South America, Asia and Africa. “We are ready to offer our allies the most modern types of weapons,” Putin said today at an arms fair near Moscow. This includes small arms, as well as armored vehicles and anti-aircraft artillery. “We really appreciate that our country has many like-minded allies and partners in different continents,” Putin said. “Your guides show a really manly character and don’t bow down.”
Russian military technology is years ahead of the competition, the president stressed, despite setbacks in the war in Ukraine, which has now lasted nearly six months. Russian forces have been repulsed in Ukraine’s two largest cities and are making slow progress in the east of the country.
Western military analysts believe this could make Russian military exports less attractive. Putin’s speech is in line with earlier statements by the president and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Both go on to talk about the possibilities for stronger cooperation with countries like China, India and Iran.