On November 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that more and more countries are prioritizing Russian-made weapons over Western weapons. He said that Asian, Arab, African and Latin American countries are long-standing partners of Russia and these relations have been established for a long time.
However, in an interview with the military program on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Russia's major arms trader Rosoboronexport, Mr. Lavrov made a noteworthy statement. He said a new trend is forming: "There are countries that have until recently relied on Western producers, but now, after global developments and various conflicts over the use of weapons, they see our weapons as the best."
According to the Russian diplomat, these new customers realized that Russian weapons are cheap, easy to use, and effective. He stressed that Russian weapons have proven to be more efficient than similar systems in the West, and are more affordable and valuable.
Although Mr. Lavrov did not just name "various conflicts", the most obvious context was the conflict in Ukraine.
This conflict has become a large-scale practical "fire trial". This is the first time modern weapons systems provided by NATO have directly collided with Russia's new generation weapons systems.
Russia regularly releases videos showing Lancet drones destroying Western-made artillery systems, or Ka-52 helicopters destroying Leopard tanks. Most recently, Russia has also continuously announced successful tests of "super weapons" such as Poseidon nuclear trawler and Burevestnik cruise missile.
Mr. Lavrov's speech directly targeted potential customers, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. Countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America are closely monitoring developments in Ukraine. They tend to seek effective, cost-effective weapons systems and, importantly, not come with the political constraints (such as the human rights provisions) often imposed by the US and Western countries.
Mr. Lavrov's assertion that Russian weapons are "easier to use" is also a blow to the complex weapons systems of the West, which require specialized training time and complex maintenance procedures. For many countries without a high-tech platform, Russian weapons, which are known for their "persistence" and "ease of operation, have become a more attractive choice.
In the context of Russia facing heavy sanctions, maintaining and expanding arms exports through Rosoboronexport is a top priority. This is an important source of foreign currency revenue for the Russian budget.
Mr. Lavrov's statement is aimed at reassuring traditional partners and attracting new customers, affirming that the Russian defense industry remains strong and their products have been "tested" on the battlefield.
