Posted on 04/15/2014 11:15:55 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Russia now spends more on its military, relative to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), than both the United States and Europe respectively.
According to figures compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Moscow spent 4.1 percent of its GDP on defence in 2013, an increase of 0.6 percent over the past 10 years. By contrast, the United States spent 3.8 percent of GDP on defence and Britain spent just 2.3 percent, with further defence cuts expected.
The only neighbouring country that spends more is Azerbaijan, with 4.7 percent.
Defence spending in Ukraine has also rocketed by 16 percent in the space of a year, coinciding with the crisis in Crimea and continued tensions with Russia over the eastern provinces of the country.
Russia's military spending relative to GDP is now the highest of any major world power, higher even than China. Russia's increase also comes as overall world military expenditure fell by 1.9 percent to $1.75 trillion.
The Guardian reports that Russia is planning to spend $705 billion modernising its military equipment...
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
For Russia, a strong military is vital to asserting Russian power in the Near Abroad and in defending the country from all possible threats. This is of the highest continuing priority for the Kremlin well into the foreseeable future.
Gee, it’s almost like having a direct line to the Kremlin.
The bear is back, it would seem. From what I’ve read about Russia’s forces, it has a whole lot of fixing up to do before it approaches the level of readiness/training/etc. it had at its Soviet peak. Still, even a rebuilding military is surely a vital asset to Russia and Putin’s plans for her.
I’m not part of the FR Putin Fan Club, but I admit that the man has a very clear vision of strength for his country, and for its place on the world stage. He is a formidable leader, and should not be underestimated.
I was more interested in your instant defense of Russia.
You know there are some reactions to all that Russian spending and aggression.
They still spend far less than we do. But how much of ours is wasted, spoilt in Afghanistan, thrown-away in foreign assistance and Muslim outreach, spent on gay/minority/women-in-combat/AA-EEO and boondoggles of every kind? We may have to go back to lower-paid conscripts again and quit putting gold-plated gadgets on every weapons system.
I’m not defending Russia - I was observing its doing what any rational country would do.
Words are of no value against the guy with the gun.
When you project weakness, you are not feared.
So Putin is building a war machine for conquest.
Not to mention spending money on tranny dancing in the military.
We do have our priorities in order. Welcoming gays into the armed forces is more important than defending America from its enemies.
And we show no signs we recognize the world is a dangerous place. If you haven’t heard yet, Obama even wants to slash our nuclear arsenal.
Well based on how the Eu/Nato/Us have been scooping up Russia’s border nations to place missile bases in...I guess I’d be doing that too...and with the history Of how nations see Russia it’s no wonder they’re paranoid....
I doubt there’s anything the nations people can ever do, no matter who they have in Leadership, that will change the world’s mind from it’s anti-Russian attitude.
Rather like with Merkel of Germany, where the Eu would love Germany to take the lead in the Euro but Merkel continues to resist because of the nations history and how that would be perceived by the world.
Same with Israel...no matter what they say and do they will still be seen the same way through the eyes of the Arab nations.
.....”So Putin is building a war machine for conquest”....
Well it would seem currently that might be needed with how things are going in Ukraine if that keeps up.
I think some can understand the moves he makes, though nobody likes it, and yet nobody has a problem with the EU/US snatching up countries to build their united Europia.....????
I guess I don’t get how it’s ok for one and not another....but then the world is pretty wacked now anyway.
Unfortunately I do understand what Putin and Russia are up to, the same thing they have been doing my entire life.
That is why so many countries are afraid right now, and Finland and even Sweden are looking into joining NATO, and they and Poland and others, are building up their own military and the stans are looking for help from China.
Bear in mind that Russia has the GDP of Italy.
They've been after Sweden and Finland because of Putin's Arctic explorations for oil and resources...the EU isn't about ready to hand over what has been, a joint venture of nations, in the Arctic to Putin’s other wise aspirations there. Putting missile bases ,at will, always comes with the US involvement in obtaining nations under the Nato agreements...or no deal.
The nations should be equally as concerned for the EU/Nato Conglomerate rising....and their buildup of defenses....Putin just gave them all the reasons to Unit
their efforts....
Heck McCain was in Estonia yesterday meeting with all their party ‘candidates’...anytime McCain shows up in a country you can be sure we're up to more than just shaking hands and wishing well....though it's always portrayed as a “lovely meeting”.
China will not be helping anyone....they'll remain neutral as possible....Putin's their man of the hour for the oil deal going down they've been working on for a couple years...plus other joint ventures China can obtain from the Bric union. But make no mistake...China is nobodies friend...and never will be. However they will always play all nations to their absolute benefit...rather like Putin does...for that matter like the US does now.
If they round up the old Soviet Union again, they won’t.
What BS, but it is sweet for NATO and the West to be compared as equal to the Soviet/Russian Empire now being rebuilt by the KGB man.
My how some Americans have changed since my days of serving with NATO under Reagan.
Well it sounds like you have it all figured out as Putin is on the move.
You’re right, it could even be less.
Putin is painting over the rust on a military that is still largely reliant on equipment that was acquired in the the 1980’s.
Isn’t this what drowned the old USSR?
There is some psychological flaw within Russian thinking, that they must continually want to expand their territory by conquering their neighbors. Looking at where they live, who can blame them.
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