Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin recently asserted the dominance of Russia’s military arsenal over that of NATO nations, underscoring the advanced capabilities of Russian weapons during a conversation with arms industry workers in Tula, Russia. Putin’s remarks accentuated the disparity between current NATO armaments and Russia’s cutting-edge military technology, which he deemed “clearly superior”.
According to TASS, a state media outlet, Putin conveyed his perspective on the comparative strength of Russian and NATO weapons. While acknowledging that some Soviet-era armaments may not outmatch modern NATO equipment in all aspects, Putin emphasized that Russia’s newest armaments undeniably do. “And if you take our newest armaments, they are clearly superior to everything. This is an obvious fact,” stated Putin.
During the meeting, Putin restated his rationale for the military conflict in Ukraine, asserting that the invasion was initiated to defend Russian-speaking communities in Ukraine and to counter perceived threats from the United States and NATO towards Russia’s security.
Putin also commended the Russian defense industry’s performance, highlighting its substantial contribution to the battlefield with state-of-the-art missile systems, armored vehicles, and other military technologies. He drew attention to the economic benefits of the conflict in Ukraine for Russia, specifically mentioning the creation of over half a million new jobs within the defense sector over the past 18 months. “In the last 1 1/2 years alone, 520,000 new jobs have been created in defense,” claimed Putin.
This surge in defense employment aligns with Moscow’s increased arms production to support intensified military operations, providing an economic boost amid the challenges posed by Western sanctions. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Russia’s defense spending is anticipated to rise by 68 percent in 2024, with a dedicated budget of $111 billion for national defense.
Putin’s statements are set against the backdrop of escalating tensions with NATO, particularly following the alliance’s announcement of “Steadfast Defender 2024”, its largest military drill in over three decades. This exercise, involving around 90,000 personnel from NATO allies and Sweden, aims to enhance the alliance’s rapid deployment capabilities and test new defense strategies, amid speculations of preparing for a possible future confrontation with Russia.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries about the NATO exercise, labeling the alliance as a persistent threat and affirming that Russia is taking continuous measures to address this challenge. Putin’s assertion of Russian military supremacy and the ongoing strategic developments underscore the heightened state of alertness and preparedness on both sides.
