Russia’s Arms Sales Policy After the Ukraine Sanctions

Abstract

Russia sells arms primarily to enhance its influence abroad in key regions, e.g., the Middle East, East, and South Asia. Since the government is the primary customer for this sector’s goods, this sector does not risk collapse even if arms sales decline though arms sales bring vital foreign currency. But, the intervening motive between seeking enhanced global influence and maintaining the defense sector is the acquisition of elite rents since the arms trade offers multiple opportunities for corruption. We then focus on the impact of arms production and sales on international security. First that means looking at how Russia’s militarization and its increasing conversion into a mobilization state is affected by the ever growing importance of defense investment and production to the government and the economy. We then investigate the impact of arms sales on international security in Latin America, the Middle East, and East Asia.