No matter who wins the Russia-Ukraine war, the west’s arms suppliers are already winners
The West is ramping up arms supplies for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia. But who is paying for these anti-aircraft, anti-armor systems, drones, radars, helicopters, howitzers etc.? And who is benefiting in this 50-day war?
The US has said it will send $800 million in additional arms, ammunition and other security aid to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden said Wednesday: “The continued supply of weapons to Ukraine by the United States and its allies and partners has been critical in sustaining its fight against Russian aggression.”
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The US has supplied more than $2.4 billion in Kyiv military aid since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24. The supplies include Stinger Anti-Aircraft System, Javelin Anti-Armor System, Switchblade Drone, Air Surveillance Radar, Mi17 Helicopter, 155mm Howitzer etc.
But it’s only in the U.S. Not there. Canada, the UK, Germany, Italy and Turkey are also among 30 countries that provide Ukraine with weapons and defense systems that their state-backed or private companies specialize in manufacturing.
Some Ukrainian neighbors, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, are also sending their own military hardware to be used against Russia in a war that killed thousands, displaced millions and ruined many cities.
There is also cash assistance to Ukraine to purchase arms and ammunition. On 7 April, the European Union pledged a further $543 million, 27- for Kyiv after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine to enforce its neighbor’s neutrality in relation to its strategic conflict with the West. Taking the member bloc’s military aid to $1.63 billion.
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In addition to mounting sanctions on Russia, these supplies are being made to protect the pro-Western government in Kyiv. The US-dominated Western military alliance NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), whose expansion in Putin’s neighborhood has irked it, is also ramping up arms shipments, but has not competed directly with Russia because Ukraine is its leader. not a member.
who pays, who benefits
But where do these weapons supplies come from?
In the US and Europe, defense manufacturing is mainly in the hands of private players. When a government announces military aid, a system demands that it pay defense manufacturers who supply the country they need.
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The country repays the loan at global-standard interest rates, which can be as high as 1 percent of the principal amount over 25-30 years. Japan allows an even longer repayment time frame. But in the case of China, the average is only 15 years.
If there is no repayment, the lending government could earn the wrath of its domestic political opponents. Taxpayers may ask: Why should we pay to arm and defend another country?
The US is hesitant to contribute to the United Nations because there is no return, many would argue. But Ukraine continues to receive direct military aid. Strategic interests are an important factor. The fear is that Putin will not stay in Ukraine if not pushed back. Around Russia there are many former Soviet members (whose separation still hurt Putin) who have embraced the West.
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America’s biggest player
But it cannot be denied that war is good business for defense contractors and manufacturers. And the US is the world’s largest defense contractor and arms exporter. (Russia is the second largest arms exporter, but accounts for about one-third that of the US).
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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US is home to five of the world’s 10 largest defense contractors. Lockheed Martin is by far the largest in the region.
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It may appear that the supply of arms is taking place after the invasion by Russia. But they were pouring out before, perhaps in small quantities, and that may have led to an attack in some way. In late 2017, US President Donald Trump approved a license to buy arms to Ukraine and export arms worth $47 million.
Lockheed Martin was contracted in 2018 after Trump’s move to provide anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. Observers warned that the move could put Putin on the path of war in the region. Nevertheless, the US continued to sell arms to Ukraine even after Trump lost the presidential election to Joe Biden.
The military aid policy continued. From 2019, the delivery of weapons from the US to Ukraine was accelerated. American cargo planes continued to land in Kyiv. The warning came true as soon as Putin ordered the attack.
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And what is happening in Ukraine, a strategic buffer between Russia and the West, has happened before.
Before the Georgia–Russia war of 2008, US President George W Bush supplied Georgia with weapons worth millions of dollars, while Putin warned of retaliation. The Bush administration apparently reassured Georgia that NATO would fight its war if Russia went for a military offensive. Georgia is not NATO like Ukraine
No matter who wins the Russia-Ukraine war, the west’s arms suppliers are already winners
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News East India staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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