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Russia Says It's Ready to Arm Saudi Arabia
Itar-Tass ^ | February 10, 2005 | Lyuba Pronina

Posted on 02/09/2005 4:29:17 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe

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."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Russia
KEYWORDS: armsbuildup; geopolitics; middleeast; proliferation; saudiarabia
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To: Shermy; Tailgunner Joe

The Saudis have never really needed a military, sinec they have always had ours, and they don't really have one now (besides ours). Their massive purchases of arms over the years have just been a way of cementing their relationship with the US, which made some sense when they were worried about Soviet-backed threats to their rule, or later Baathist and Iranian threats.

At this point, though, the only threat to their rule is from other Saudis, so there is little reason to court US protection.

When you think about it, though, what does a country with no military do with massive arms purchases? We have always said they buried it, stockpiled it, in the desert to be used by US brigades who might arrive in an emergency and be immediately supplied from Saudi stocks.

If its buried in the desert, though, who is to say it exists? Who is to say that the "arms purchases" weren't massive bribes which purchased American military protection. Or they were underwriting "off-the-books" enterprises that wouldn't show up in the official budget. It might be significant, then, if Saudi bribes were being diversified to include Moscow's ruling elite. It may simply be a way of expressing some pique, by reducing the payoffs to their former American friends.

I know, I'm crazy.


41 posted on 02/09/2005 5:23:31 PM PST by marron
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To: exnavy
When I was active duty we had some Saudis and Iranians at our radar school in Great Lakes. Their performance was a little lackluster.

They loved the bars and strip joints in town, though.

If they're "devout" Muslims, that should have been a major tip-off that they're up to no good. It seems that Mohammed allows them to begin indulging a bit early if they're about to earn themselves 72 virgins.

Of course, if they're not "devout", it meant nothing.

42 posted on 02/09/2005 5:27:12 PM PST by steveegg (The secret goal of lieberals - to ensure that no future generation can possibly equal theirs.)
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To: Chris_GT

They have spent billions on their military but I would bet the IAF would destroy ninety percent of their air force before they even got a plane airborne. As for the land forces...... Let 'em buy hardware from the Russians. They have neither the will to use it nor the capability to learn how.


43 posted on 02/09/2005 5:35:52 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: Tailgunner Joe; F14 Pilot; PeterFinn; Mr. Mojo; ABG(anybody but Gore); Cornpone; tet68; steveegg; ..
Saudis are used to buying off Americans with their money - American leaders being a simple and corruptible lot - They have never had to deal with Russians and their corrupt corruptibility - by that I mean when you think you are buying off Russia - usually Russia is screwing you over - in a good way for them. There is a reason Russians outlasted the Mongols, French, Germans and Communists.

My question to my fellow posters - where was the stink eye when we sold F-15 and main battle tanks to the premier jihad state of murderers? I think the Saudis will soon realize that its cheaper to buy off a US Senator - American politicians have integrity when it comes to tacking bribes.

What is happening is our girlfriend Saudi is making googly eyes at Ivan in the hopes it makes Sam jealous. PS: When should you be worried? When OPEC goes Euro and the Saudi's withdraw their money from American financial institutions (I think they account for a quarter of our economy).

44 posted on 02/09/2005 5:44:12 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: Destro

I ask the same question...where's the outrage when we sell them advanced weapons systems?


45 posted on 02/09/2005 5:45:17 PM PST by Guillermo (Dems: Tax and Spend GOP: Borrow and Spend)
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To: Guillermo

You mean the Saudis? I just did.


46 posted on 02/09/2005 5:48:10 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: Destro

Yes...the US has sold the Saudi's billions of $'s worth of advanced weapons systems...

I don't really care...as the things they buy tend to rust in the desert.


47 posted on 02/09/2005 5:49:28 PM PST by Guillermo (Dems: Tax and Spend GOP: Borrow and Spend)
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To: Destro

I'm still trying to figure out why we sold them AWACS two decades ago. I wouldn't trust that with anybody but the Brits or Israelis, and I'd hedge on the latter.


48 posted on 02/09/2005 5:50:07 PM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("Oh no, not Hans Brix!")
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To: ABG(anybody but Gore)

I find it very funny - they are thinking about buying some arms from Russia - people here go ape and apocalyptic - America sold the Saudis BILLIONS of arms over decades - Do as I say not as I do mentality I guess. Shame on us for selling the Saudis anything of value.


49 posted on 02/09/2005 5:57:24 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: F14 Pilot
Russia's Military Involvement in the Middle East By Oksana Antonenko and Ezekiel

38 & 39

50 posted on 02/09/2005 6:01:22 PM PST by mississippi red-neck
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To: Destro

I could care less about the Saudis buying Russian hardware. But what I've never understood is the reason we gave them access to top-notch American stuff like the F-15 and M-1. And, like I said, I have no idea why they would have needed AWACS technology.

Yeah, we buy oil from them, but we can sell them second-hand stuff like the F-4 or F-16 and M-60. More than enough to handle the junk Saddam had in 1990 and two years ago.


51 posted on 02/09/2005 6:09:39 PM PST by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("Oh no, not Hans Brix!")
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To: Guillermo
...as the things they buy tend to rust in the desert.

Things don't rust in the desert. Desert is dry, things are stored, preserved in the desert. Check Arizona desert and the aircraft "parking lot" there. I've got 60 Cadillac from AZ to prove it, no rust.

52 posted on 02/09/2005 6:20:34 PM PST by Leo Carpathian (FReeeePeee!)
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To: Leo Carpathian

Actually, the Saudi deserts near the coasts are extremely humid.

ANd, I'm talking about Arabs takikng care of their equipment, not Americans.

Arabs have a general disdain for "blue collar" work, that's why so much of their stuff is in a state of disrepair.


53 posted on 02/09/2005 6:26:11 PM PST by Guillermo (Dems: Tax and Spend GOP: Borrow and Spend)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Where is Saddam Hussein when we need him?


54 posted on 02/09/2005 6:31:19 PM PST by paleocon patriarch ("Never attribute to a conspiracy that which can be explained by incompetence.")
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To: F14 Pilot
And which other countries that make a sizable part of their exports from selling weapons also do it only for the money ?

Many people in the armaments industry directly benefit by the continuation of violence, and the outbreak of death and destruction, in many parts of the world.
55 posted on 02/09/2005 6:40:12 PM PST by Red Sea Swimmer (Tisha5765Bav)
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To: mississippi red-neck
Do you think it is now time for this little prophecy by one of the Old Testament guys to trump the others ?

Isaiah - "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
56 posted on 02/09/2005 6:42:50 PM PST by Red Sea Swimmer (Tisha5765Bav)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Nuts.

I just wished the US and the Russians wouldn't work against each other till the end of the WOT. Yeah I know, the rose colored glasses need a new prescription.


57 posted on 02/09/2005 7:04:10 PM PST by redgolum
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To: redgolum

This is Itar-Tass - which loves to load the news and Russophobes like Top take it and run with it.


58 posted on 02/09/2005 7:07:50 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: honest2God

The Saudi military couldn't even catch terrorists who were in a building thAt they had SURROUNDED.


59 posted on 02/09/2005 7:09:28 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (This just in from CBS: "There is no bias at CBS")
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To: Destro
If only the main export in the Middle East was turnips. Then we wouldn't have to worry so much about them right now.

Good point about the Russians. Russia used to be between China and the Byzantines. One invented bureaucracy, the other took it to new heights. The Russians learned rather well how to take your wallet and have you thank them for it.
60 posted on 02/09/2005 7:11:19 PM PST by redgolum
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