Russian Military Faces Growing Budget, Constrained Bandwidth

DefenceTalk.com ^

[DTAD]

In 10 years, Russia's national defense spending has risen by more than 965 percent as its military renews strategic air patrols, reasserts its interests throughout the former Soviet space, and actively pushes back against competing security interests from the U.S. and Europe. Last year, Russian national defense spending surpassed $32 billion, compared with less than $3 billion in 1998. Looking forward, Russian defense spending is expected to trend upward; however, Moscow's strategic bandwidth may be constrained by a confluence of defense economic factors.

[tlb]

A 21st century military balanced with land, air, sea, and nuclear forces with more then mere regional capability is VERY expensive. The USSR economy couldn’t take the strain. Nor can present day Russia, oil or no oil. But bluff and bluster is cheap and can carry them a long way if faced with weak western leaders.

CIA Factbook GDP Rankings (2007)

1 United States 13,860,000
2 People’s Republic of China 7,043,000
3 Japan 4,346,000
4 India 2,965,000
5 Germany 2,833,000
6 United Kingdom 2,147,000
7 Russia 2,076,000
8 France 2,067,000
9 Brazil 1,838,000

[NoLibZone]

"But bluff and bluster is cheap and can carry them a long way if faced with weak western leaders."

Add to that- a weak populace.