Russian arms sales to Middle East & North Africa

Middle Eastern Countries Interested in Russian Armed Vehicles, Aircraft

Middle Eastern states are showing increased interest in Russian military hardware, the deputy head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Thursday.

KUWAIT CITY (Sputnik) — Many Middle Eastern countries have expressed increased interest in Russian military hardware, including armored vehicles and aircraft, at the Gulf Defence & Aerospace exhibition in Kuwait, the deputy head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Thursday.

"At Gulf Defence & Aerospace, we are representing Russia's military-industrial complex in all segments of the arms market. Significant interest is being expressed in Russian wheeled and tracked armored vehicles, combat helicopters and planes, military transport aircraft and combat training aircraft, different classes of air defense systems," Sergey Goreslavsky, who heads the joint delegation of Rosoboronexport and Russia's state hi-tech corporation Rostec at the event, said.

The arms exporter is offering its "Complex Defense Systems" package around the world, the deputy director added. The package includes a wide range of products for urban security, counter-terrorism, facility protection, border protection and natural disaster cleanups, he explained.

In November, the Dubai Airshow took place in the United Arab Emirates, where customers from the region showed interest in Russian air defense systems and aerial military technology, according to a Russian delegate at the event.

Egypt, Iraq and Syria have been Russia's traditional customers in the Middle East, while Saudi Arabia has begun to show interest in Russian defense systems more recently.

Russia Fulfills Infantry Fighting Vehicle Export Deal With Kuwait

Russia has effectively fulfilled its side of the deal to supply Kuwait with infantry fighting vehicles, the deputy head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said Thursday.

"This year, we will complete the fulfillment of the contract to supply BMP-3M and BMP-3K infantry fighting vehicles to Kuwait. The last batch of the vehicles arrived in Kuwait in early November, which is currently undergoing the receipt process," Sergey Goreslavsky told RIA Novosti.

Without specifying the number of vehicles delivered to Kuwait under the deal, Goreslavsky emphasized that they had performed well in high temperatures, which in the Middle East can reach 50 degrees Celsius during the hottest months.

Russia Arms Exports Must Expand Gains Across Middle East

Russia must sustain the momentum it has gained in broadening its military-technical cooperation across the Middle East, Sergey Goreslavsky, the deputy head of Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said at Gulf Defence & Aerospace expo in Kuwait City on Thursday.

"Within the last few years, Russia has significantly expanded its military-technical cooperation with Middle Eastern countries. Our goal is to maintain the pace we have accomplished, and that is why we decided to take part in Gulf Defense & Aerospace," Goreslavsky, who heads the joint delegation of Rosoboronexport and Russia's state hi-tech corporation Rostec to the exhibition, told RIA Novosti.

The Gulf Defense & Aerospace-2015 Exhibition and Conference, taking place between December 8-10, has great potential in terms of promoting Russian arms exports in the Middle East, Goreslavsky added.

In November, many customers from the region showed interest in Russian air defense systems and aerial military technology at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates, according to a Russian delegate at the event.

Various Russian military equipment has recently seen combat action in the Middle Eastern region, including bomber aircraft, multirole planes and rocket launcher systems.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20151210/1031519323/russia-defence-army-interest.html#ixzz3tvBnEErp

Russia’s military exports to Middle East and North Africa hit $6 bln

The region's share in the Russian military products’ portfolio is also stable and hits from 40% to 50% of the total volume of orders, Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation stated

https://tass.com/defense/1259253

Iraq's AF might substitute its US F-16 with Russian fighters, writes media

In the near future, Iraqi AF could substitute American F-16IQ Fighting Falcons with more advanced Russian combat planes.

According to a Military Watch portal article, Irak has 34 F-16 fighters of American manufacture that were provided between 2014 and 2017. Maintenance of these fighters very much depends on the US technical support that, due to changes in the political sphere within short notice should be retired from Irak. This is one of the reasons why Iraqi authorities are planning the purchase of modern aircraft.

Last August, Iraqi officials declared the need for Russia's fifth-generation Su-57s. However, the country does not have the capacity for their purchase due to them being expensive.

On the other hand, the portal writes, MiG-29 or MiG-35 could help the Iraqi AF to obtain skills and experience necessary to operate more advanced aircraft such as Su-57s or Su-30SM2s.

https://br.sputniknews.com/defesa/2021051417519751-forca-aerea-do-iraque-pode-substituir-f-16-dos-eua-por-cacas-russos-diz-midia/

Russia should offer KSA a provision of a huge amount of its highly effective defensive weapons and become a peace broker with Yemen/Iran, following this move from Yanquiland:

Bill submitted to US Senate to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia for one year, 10.11.2022.

A bill to halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia for a year has been submitted to the US Senate, Senator Richard Blumenthal said. The document states that this is necessary "to ensure a one-year suspension of direct commercial and foreign military sales of weapons and ammunition to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Earlier Sunday, a group of Democratic lawmakers announced a series of measures that would need to be legislatively submitted to the Senate. It was, in particular, about the need to withdraw the US military from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The reason for such demarches is that OPEC + announced a reduction in oil production by two million barrels per day.

Lawmakers said in a statement Sunday: "The sharp cuts in oil production by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, despite President Biden's appeals to both countries in recent months, are an act of hostility against the United States."

https://rg.ru/2022/10/11/v-senat-ssha-vnesli-proekt-zakona-o-prekrashchenii-prodazh-oruzhiia-saudovskoj-aravii-na-odin-god.html

Automatic replacement: Russia is ready to supply weapons to Riyadh instead of the United States, by Elnar Bainazarof for Izvestia. 10.13.2022.

How Washington can punish Saudi Arabia for the OPEC+ deal.

The United States announced a review of relations with Saudi Arabia due to the decision of OPEC + to cut oil production . State Department spokesman Ned Price accused the kingdom of acting "not in the best interests of the Americans" because the cartel's decision would push energy prices even higher this winter . The measures that US senators have proposed to punish Riyadh include a ban on the supply of weapons, spare parts and the withdrawal of air defense systems. In the Federation Council, Izvestia was told that Russia was ready to act as an alternative to the United States and increase arms supplies to Saudi Arabia . Nevertheless, the experts interviewed believe that Washington still will not decide to cancel the contracts, as this could lead to an even greater gap in relations and the loss of the largest arms market in the Middle East.

Reappraisal in the case

On October 5, OPEC+ countries and Russia agreed to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day . This is twice as much as analysts predicted. In response, the Joe Biden administration reported that relations with Riyadh, Washington's strategic ally in the region, are waiting for a "reassessment" .

Immediately after the cartel's statement, the head of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, stressed that the States "should immediately freeze all aspects of cooperation with Saudi Arabia" , in addition, it is "absolutely necessary." Riyadh, however, insists that the decision was purely economic and aimed at curbing the recession.

"The idea that Saudi Arabia did this to harm the US or to get involved in political life in any way is absolutely wrong," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in a statement.

Kingdom Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud added: "We are primarily concerned about the interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

According to him, OPEC + must act more actively, as Western central banks have moved to fight inflation with higher interest rates - this increases the likelihood of a global recession. It, in turn, can reduce the demand for oil and, accordingly, its cost.

According to the International Monetary Fund, for Saudi Arabia's budget to break even, world oil prices need to be around $79 per barrel. In September 2022, prices fell to $85 per barrel, although back in February-March they reached $139.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on October 11, also said that OPEC + decisions are not directed against anyone , but only to “create stability in world energy markets.”

Omar al- Ubaidli , professor at the Bahrain Economic Center, elaborated in an article for Al Arabiya that "the OPEC decision has a long-term perspective" in contrast to the short-term political interests of US senators ahead of the November 8 congressional elections.

“OPEC correctly judged that if they did not intervene to stop the fall, there would be a new collapse in oil investment - this would lead to new oil price spikes in a few years . This would be bad news for everyone, especially for oil importers,” the expert said. “The production cuts reflected the convergence of long-term interests of both exporters and importers, including the US and the EU.”

However, the US Congress continues to insist that the OPEC + deal and the actions of Saudi Arabia as the informal leader of the cartel were directed, if not against Washington, then definitely in favor of Moscow.

US pressure levers

One of the main ways to punish Riyadh for an inconvenient deal for Washington is a diplomatic blockade. It has actually already begun . For example, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs Barbara Leaf announced a visit to the region. At the same time, she will visit Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates without stopping in Saudi Arabia.

Democrats in Congress, judging by their statements, will not be limited to a diplomatic boycott: many are pushing for the passage of the NOPEC bill, which will allow the Department of Justice to file lawsuits against OPEC + countries and their state oil companies in accordance with US antitrust laws.

On September 30, Senators Betty McCollum and Adam Schiff introduced the Jamal Khashoggi Protection of Dissidents and Journalists Act. Under the initiative, the State Department will be able to impose visa restrictions on individuals acting on behalf of a foreign government or threatening dissidents and journalists.

Another anti-Saudi measure is the Tensions Partnership Act , which was introduced on October 5 by senators led by Tom Malinowski. It assumes that all US military, as well as all air defense equipment and systems, will be withdrawn from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. According to the authors of the initiative, there is no reason to protect the oil fields of "countries that are actively working against us . " Politicians also accused the Saudi Arabia and the UAE of complicity with Russia: "If Saudi Arabia and the UAE want to help [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, they should count on his protection."

However, this is not the first time that congressmen have demanded a halt to the supply of weapons to the KSA. In connection with the start of the military campaign in Yemen in 2015, American politicians made several attempts to restrict the export of American weapons to Saudi Arabia.

But until 2019, the United States continued to supply the KSA with weapons: for example, the Royal Air Force received 30 F-15SA fighters, without prior approval in Congress, the supply of 59 thousand guided bombs to Saudi Arabia was allowed.

Immediately after taking office, Biden suspended the implementation of military contracts concluded by Donald Trump. In particular, shipments of 3,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I bombs to Boeing worth $290 million and 7,000 Paveway IV precision guided bombs to Raytheon Technologies worth $478 million were frozen.

The US has five military bases in Saudi Arabia, and there are about 3,000 US troops in the country.

System cooling

The Russian Federation is ready to increase the supply of weapons to the Persian Gulf countries instead of the United States and expects that the states of the region will not succumb to pressure from Washington , Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the Federation Council committee on international affairs, told Izvestia.

- If the US continues to threaten to disrupt the supply of weapons to the Gulf countries, Russia is calmly ready to replace American suppliers in this market. These countries are solvent and could see our weapons in action in Syria,” the senator explained.

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest arms importer and the largest client of the American military-industrial complex. The KSA accounted for up to 25% of US arms exports in 2015–2019.

On February 19, 2021, the Russian Cabinet of Ministers signed an intergovernmental agreement on military-technical cooperation with Saudi Arabia . In February, the National Interest wrote that Riyadh plans to purchase S-400 Triumph air defense systems and Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. There was no official confirmation of this information.

Vladimir Dzhabarov also noted that the missile defense systems supplied by the United States showed little effectiveness during the shelling of the territory of Saudi Arabia by the Houthis from Yemen.

Relations between Washington and Riyadh can be described as a systemic cooling, there have already been such periods of discord, but then ties were restored , Andrey Baklanov, ex-ambassador of the Russian Federation to Saudi Arabia, deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats, explained to Izvestia.

“The crack went back in 2001, after the terrorist attacks in the United States, when the Americans pointed their finger at the Saudis and accused them of betrayal,” he clarified.

Nevertheless, according to him, Riyadh and Washington still have more points of contact than annoying elements . In particular, we are talking about the great dependence of the KSA on the supply of modern technologies and weapons.

- Over 80% of the weapons in the KSA are American. Accordingly, they need spare parts. This is a potential lever of pressure on Riyadh . But it is unlikely that the US military-industrial complex will refuse such a promising market: Saudi Arabia accounts for 53% of all deliveries of American weapons to the region, it is the dominant procurement center in the entire Middle East, Andrey Baklanov noted.

He added: the arms market is very mobile, it has a lot of competition. In particular, France can replace the United States - 44% of the republic's arms exports in 2021 fell on the countries of the Middle East (€ 5.2 billion out of € 11.7 billion).

“So Washington is playing a dangerous game, risking being left without such an important buyer,” summed up Andrei Baklanov.

Orientalist Elena Suponina believes that there will not be a real break in relations between Riyadh and Washington .

- In 2018, the United States has already unilaterally introduced restrictions, then it concerned the withdrawal of large American investments from Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. But even then there was no complete break. It is unlikely that the United States is now interested in this, the expert noted in an interview with Izvestia.

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia a pariah amid a story that the royal house was involved in the murder of Washington Post columnist Khashoggi. The journalist was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

The United States, as a measure to punish the KSA, can also raise the dossier on the murder of Khashoggi or resume consideration of claims for the September 11 attacks, and in both cases blame Saudi Arabia for everything , Vyacheslav Matuzov, president of the Society for Friendship and Business Cooperation with Arab Countries, told Izvestia.

- The United States, by statements in the press, in fact, themselves cut off the path of retreat, because Saudi Arabia was driven into a corner. And this situation prompted Riyadh and other Gulf countries to look for alternatives: in particular, to increase cooperation with Russia, the expert explained.

He concluded: not a single Arab country has imposed sanctions against the Russian Federation, and this is also an indicator.

Izvestia sent inquiries to the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry and the Russian and US embassies in Riyadh.

https://iz.ru/1409269/elnar-bainazarov/avtomatnaia-zamena-rf-gotova-postavit-oruzhie-er-riiadu-vmesto-ssha