Page 32 - ADT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021 Online Magazine

willing to take the risk as Russian weapons and
systems are cheaper that U.S.-made ones and
more easily available. In recent years, Russia
has sold missile systems to the U.A.E. and mil-
itary rifles to Saudi Arabia. The country has [ ANALYSIS ]
also dented the U.S’ market share in the region
by selling sophisticated weapons to Egypt and
Turkey. Egypt has acquired a fleet of MiG-29
fighters, Ka-52 attack helicopters and S-300
air defence missiles from Russia while Turkey
has taken possession of S-400 air defence
missiles ins a US$ 2.5billion deal. Iraq is also
showing renewed interest in adding Russian
weapons to its arsenal.
Crowded Despite U.S. threats of sanctions if it acti-

vated the missile system, Turkey intends to
go ahead with its plans to deploy the missiles
Marketplace and to even order another batch of missiles.
In another instance of threats not having the
desired effect, Egypt has initiated discussions
with Russia for the purchase of a fleet of Su-35

THE U.S. IS STILL THE BIGGEST PLAYER IN THE fighter for US US$2 billion.
Making Progress
MIDDLE EAST WEAPONS MARKET, BUT RUSSIA China accounted for just 2.5 percent of the
AND CHINA ARE MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT arms imported by countries in the Middle East
between 2000-2019, but that figure is set to
Arun Sivasankaran go up in the current decade. According to
the Stockholm International Peace Research
The U.S. still remains comfortably the largest arms exporter in Institute, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. spent
the world and supplied nearly 45 percent of the arms imported US$40 million each on Chinese arms in 2018, a
by Middle Eastern states from 2015-2019, but Russia, and China substantial increase from previous years. Both
to a lesser extent, continue to make inroads into the market. The the countries have acquired Chinese military
two countries will be watching the Biden administration’s stand on drones while the U.A.E. has announced plans
weapon sales to the Middle East with plenty of interest. Former to develop weapons with a Chinese company.
President Donald Trump pushed aggressively for sale of U.S. China has also helped Turkey develop its bal-
weapons in the region, but Biden has already indicated that he is listic missile program and sold armed drones
not willing to go that route. This might cause a dip in the number to Iraq and Jordan.
of weapons U.S. defence firms sell in the region, something that
countries such as Russia, China and France are likely to exploit. The U.S. views arms sales to its partners in the
The U.S. has maintained its supremacy in terms of arms sales for Middle East not only to have a major influence
more than two decades – nearly 45 percent of all arms imported on the region but also as a way to keep the
by militaries in the region were U.S.-made. Russia and France are countries from purchasing arms from Russia
placed second and third with 19.3 percent and 11.4 percent respec- and China. “US arms sales assure our partners
tively. Weapons made by U.S. companies remain on top of the in the region that we're going to be around,
priority list for most countries in the Middle East, mainly because that we're going to be dependable partners. We
of their technological supremacy and the fact that the country has don’t want them turning to China, we don’t want
played an active role in the region. The weapons, however, are them turning to Russia to buy those systems,”
hard to come by as the country imposes preconditions on arms says commander of U.S. Central Command
sales, including those related to human rights. This has served as (CENTCOM) Commander General Kenneth
a catalyst for Russian and Chinese arms sales in the region. In McKenzie, referring to the U.S.’ partners in the
2018, Russian weapons exports to the Middle East hit an all-time Middle East.
high of US$13.7bn
From developments over the last few years, it
Growing Influence would take more than arms sales by the U.S. to
There is always the risk that buying weapons from Russia would stop Russia and China from cornering a sizable
invite U.S. sanctions, but militaries in the region seem increasingly market share.

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