Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia

IMRA ^ | 2-13-05

[SJackson]

Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia

Lyuba Pronina, Staff Writer Moscow Times February 10, 2005 No. 3103

[From David Isenberg's Weapons Trade Observer, http://lists.topica.com/lists/sento] [With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ]

Moscow is preparing its first major defense contract with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest arms buyer that has traditionally spent its petrodollars on U.S.-made weapons. The deal is part of a strategy aimed at diversifying Russia's arms buyers away from China and India, Sergei Chemezov, general director of state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, told reporters Wednesday.

Russia also signed an arms contract with Morocco last month, he said, the first since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Chemezov refused to give any details, but said that Russia is stepping up negotiations with Middle Eastern countries for jointly developing air defense systems on the basis of the domestically produced S-300, Buk and Tor-M1 systems.

"If a contract with Saudi Arabia is signed, it will be a landmark event in Russian arms exporting," said Marat Kenzhetayev, an expert with the Center for Arms Control.

From 1991 to 2002, Saudi Arabia imported $ 93 billion worth of weapons, Kenzhetayev said, while Morocco imported $ 1 billion.

In that same period of time, Riyadh signed $ 40 billion worth of arms contracts, of which $ 28 billion flowed to the United States and not a penny went to Russia, he said.

After U.S.-Saudi relations dampened following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the situation now seems to be swinging in Russia's favor, Kenzhetayev said.

While Moscow already sells arms to Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, Kuwait and Algeria, a deal with the Saudis could push its neighbors Jordan and Oman to sign Russian contracts as well, Kenzhetayev said.

For Moscow, which sells arms to 59 countries, finding new customers is important as it tries to diversify away from major clients China and India, which account for 80 percent of Russian arms sales.

"We have reached the ceiling of $ 5 billion to $ 6 billion in annual arms sales abroad," Chemezov said. "We have to change something drastically." Last year, Rosoboronexport, which mediates over 90 percent of the country's arms deals, delivered $ 5.1 billion worth of arms out of $ 5.8 billion exported by Russia as a whole.

Rosoboronexport has orders of $ 12 billion through 2007, but Chemezov said that this year Rosoboronexport can expect to make $ 1 billion less in revenues.

"The reason? Our companies cannot produce more modern weapons. The industry is in need of investment either from private companies or from the state," he said. "Today we sell weapons that were designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s." Rosoboronexport plans to boost control over defense production by placing its directors on the boards of arms makers and buying stakes, Chemezov said.

Chemezov said that all sales are strictly in line with international agreements and do not violate any United Nations sanctions.

"However, if some country, including the United States, makes its own decision on sanctions , pardon us, we are not obliged to do as America says," Chemezov said.

Last month, Israel and the United States expressed concern about the possible sale of SA-18 surface-to-air missiles to Syria.

Asked whether any such contract was discussed during Syrian President Bashar Assad's recent visit or is planned, Chemezov said: "No."

[Peach]

Russia (and France and China) armed Saddam Hussein with illegal weapons, even AFTER we went to war. This is not surprising, although there is reason for alarm with Russias hard turn to the "good ole days".

[Calpernia]

Ok, now I'm confused.

I thought Russia wanted the US to stop our ally ties with Saudi Arabia?

Now Russia wants to ally with them?

[followerofchrist]

The US is the largest arms dealer in the world, and now Russia wants to be. Must you be a liberal to see war profiteerism as a seedy business?

[Joe Bonforte]

None of this matters. The Saudis could have a trillion dollars worth of weaponry, and they would still be defenseless.

Their entire economy is supported by Western technicians. If we pulled out, it would collapse in months. And their armed forces have no training or temperament to fight a serious war, much less a high-tech one.

This is just a lame attempt to get Washington's attention, because it's obvious that one of the items on Bush's to-do list is reforming Saudi Arabia, which means getting rid of the corrupt and repulsive House of Saud. The Saudis are just about out of cards to play, with money being about the only one they have left. So they spend money to send a message, knowing if push came to shove, it would do them no good.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Their entire economy is supported by Western technicians. If we pulled out, it would collapse in months. And their armed forces have no training or temperament to fight a serious war, much less a high-tech one.

Its useful to know that we have provided SA with weapons and infrastructure (air traffic control) for years. We cannot very well argue that other countrys should not do the same. I always thought it would be smart to put a (shut down switch) in the F 16s we have sold them. Perhaps radio activated from US planes?

[Happy2BMe]

I FEEL A MAJOR DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE LUKE - - ping.

(If you know *anything* about Biblical prophesy, this will make your toenails curl .)

Meggido . . where is Megiddo?

===================================================

Moscow is preparing its first major defense contract with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest arms buyer that has traditionally spent its petrodollars on U.S.-made weapons.

The deal is part of a strategy aimed at diversifying Russia's arms buyers away from China and India, Sergei Chemezov, general director of state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport, told reporters Wednesday.

[SauronOfMordor]

Their entire economy is supported by Western technicians. If we pulled out, it would collapse in months. And their armed forces have no training or temperament to fight a serious war, much less a high-tech one.

Saudi is a rich welfare state. Their men will not fight. I used to work at a defense contractor that got a huge contract with Saudi, and I got to interact with Saudi officers. I was not impressed

[pepsionice]

This is like selling a computer to a illerate kid...nothing good can come out of this deal.

[Calpernia]

That was funny!

[ApesForEvolution]

Love the Word BTTT

[Bald Eagle777]

I was thinking along the same lines (hidden shut down utilities) for all of our high tech military exports. You never know when technology we sell will be used against us. We sold Stingers to the Mujaheedeen after Russia went in to Afghanistan in 1979. ... The tables of history turn.

[jolie560]

Weapons sales are as old as history. Everyone improves on their armaments sooner or later, even Morocco.

[SJackson]

I FEEL A MAJOR DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE LUKE - - ping.

Russia's just flexing it's foreign policy muscles, after taking some time off from training. It's not surprising they'd focus on the middle east

[GarySpFc]

(If you know *anything* about Biblical prophesy, this will make your toenails curl .)

Meggido . . where is Megiddo?

Yeah, I know more than a little about Biblical prophecy, with a doctorate in theology. I can tell you that the Valley of Meggido would not hold one division, much less all the armies of the world. I'm always amazed at the clowns who stand on Megiddo and look out at the Valley of Jezreel and think the battle of Armigeddon is going to be there. The Valley of Megiddo is only a few hundred yards wide, and not more than a mile in depth. The Valley of Jazreel is very large, but the Bible is very clear that they are not one and the same.

[GarySpFc]

(If you know *anything* about Biblical prophesy, this will make your toenails curl .)

Meggido . . where is Megiddo?

Yeah, I know more than a little about Biblical prophecy, with a doctorate in theology. I can tell you that the Valley of Meggido would not hold one division, much less all the armies of the world. I'm always amazed at the clowns who stand on Megiddo and look out at the Valley of Jezreel and think the battle of Armigeddon is going to be there. The Valley of Megiddo is only a few hundred yards wide, and not more than a mile in depth. The Valley of Jazreel is very large, but the Bible is very clear that they are not one and the same.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[American in Israel]

Yeah, I know more than a little about Biblical prophecy, with a doctorate in theology. I can tell you that the Valley of Meggido would not hold one division, much less all the armies of the world.

Been there, it is a whole lot bigger than that. It takes a while to drive across it.

Plain of Esdraelon Megiddo

(Megiddo). The plain of Esdralon (Greek form of `Jezreel used in Greek writers (Judith 1:8) for general area of Plain of Megiddo), extends across the breadth of the entire country, between Mount Carmel, Mount Gilboa and the hills of lower Galilee. The Kishon River runs through the whole length of the valley to the Mediterranean Sea. The plain of Esdralon, or the Great Valley, was very important for relationship between the coast and the countries to the north and east. Some of the greatest battles in history of the world have been fought here. The Bible records battles such as the battle between Deborah and Jabin, king of Hazor (Judg 4-5); and between Saul and the Philistines (1 Sam 29:1; 31:1 ff); and between Josiah and Pharaoh Necho of Egypt (II Kings 23:29-30).

[FBD]

Thanks for the ping- disturbing news.
But there's been a lot of that lately.

Regards