Lavrov says West falling behind in arms race, targets Russian army gear

(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has asserted that Western nations are falling behind in the global arms race and are now turning to sanctions on Russian military equipment as a means to punish Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. In an interview with a military-focused program, Lavrov claimed that Russian weaponry has gained a reputation for reliability among countries seeking to protect their sovereignty and resist external influence. He suggested that the West’s heightened pressure stems from the perceived effectiveness of Russian arms.

When asked about the modern challenges facing Russia’s arms export system and how they are addressed internationally, Lavrov responded, “The same challenges that we face when exporting any other goods, energy commodities and finished products – sanctions and attempts to justify them by the need to punish Russia for its ‘behavior’ in Ukraine. In reality, it is a dirty and anti-competitive fight.” He criticized the West for abandoning the principles it has long promoted, noting that as soon as Western countries realized they were losing the competition, “It was clinging to any excuses.” Lavrov emphasized that sanctions targeting Russia’s defense sector predated the ongoing military operations.

He added that Russia is able to circumvent these measures because many non-Western countries prefer to engage in fair trade, stating, “Everyone wants to trade honestly, and those who sincerely want to make mutually beneficial transactions will always find financial, banking, and logistics chains and this is what is happening now.”

Lavrov shared an anecdote from arms exhibitions abroad, saying that in South Africa, a local elite individual revealed a St. George ribbon and the letter Z on his clothing, signaling openness to Russia. “These countries are much more open to Russia. The situation is the same in Brazil.

People used to approach us when they saw we were from Russian TV, and sometimes they would even suggest giving us an interview,” he remarked.

On the historical and symbolic significance of Russian weaponry, Lavrov stated, “The short answer is – yes, no doubt about it. We talked about our products being absolutely competitive. It is covered with glory including the glory of the fight against colonialism.” He highlighted the Kalashnikov rifle as a symbol of decolonization, recalling that many African countries associate Soviet-era weaponry and Russian advisors with their struggles for independence.

Lavrov concluded that Russia has maintained technological competitiveness, asserting that “even in the present-day situation, in the more advanced technological environments we never lagged behind in this ‘race.’”

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