Russia's Arms Business In Africa Takes A Big Hit

Russia's planned big-ticket arms sales in Africa are expected to suffer as a result of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to US defense and intelligence sources, depriving the Kremlin of a significant funding stream as the five-month battle devolves into a bitter stalemate, Jack Detsch reported for Foreign Policy.

Photo Insert: Hundreds of tanks and helicopters downed by shoulder-fired rockets supplied by the US and Europe, will also create substantial delays in the Kremlin's military deployments into Africa.

The Pentagon and US intelligence officials believe that Russia's devastating losses of high-end equipment in Ukraine, including hundreds of tanks and helicopters downed by shoulder-fired rockets supplied by the US and Europe, will create substantial delays in the Kremlin's military deployments into Africa.

According to Detsch, this change could allow Russia's competitors, such as China and the United States, to get a foothold in the lucrative industry.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia accounts for about half of significant military exports to Africa, principally supplying weapons to Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, and Angola.

“We anticipate that they’re going to have a real problem delivering equipment at the rate they’re losing equipment in Ukraine,” said a senior US intelligence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to Pentagon ground rules.

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