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Billion with a "B"?
By Charlie
Algeria is buying a LOT of weaponry from Russia:
Algeria has decided to spend some of its recent oil and gas fortunes on an array of Russian weapons including MiG fighter planes and other military gadgetry.In return, Russia has earned the rights to Algeria’s lucrative oil and gas reserves in a deal some consider crucial to the former Soviet Union’s aspirations to become a world leader in the gas industry.
During a trip to Algiers last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin finalized a deal by which Algeria will purchase US$7.5 billion worth of fighter planes, other aircraft, and updates for its current fleet of MiG fighters, and in exchange give Russian oil giant LUKoil and state-run gas giant Gazprom access to some of North Africa’s most bountiful oil and gas fields.
Russia will reportedly deliver 36 MiG 29SMT fighters, 28 Su-30MK interdiction aircraft, and 16 Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers, as well as upgrade 36 older MiG-29s, and provide ground-based radar systems and training for technicians and pilots.
So Algeria is buying 7.5 billion dollars worth of arms from Russia? My first thought: why?
Egypt, who used to be the hegemon of north Africa, is now self-focused and concerned with regime stability and domestic terrorist threats. Libya gave up its WMD program, and Morocco seems to be pursuing a quiet policy of counter-terrorism and modest economic expansion. I suppose Algeria has decided that this is the point to exploit the relative peace in the region and seize the mantle of power. We’ll have to see what the specifics of the deal are, but Algeria becoming a regional deal-breaker in North Africa could be a serious detriment to US policy there, and it could threaten Morocco, one of our allies.
This is something to keep an eye on. To say nothing of the fact that Russia seems to be willing to arm anyone with petrodollars to the teeth in spite of US protests.
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Comments
Who is going to protect Algeria from the Iranians?
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Russia is the Wal-Mart of arms sales...impressive selection, open 24-7, dirt cheap, with a shady consumer base.