Weeks Before Polls, Putin Calls For Stronger Military

Less than two weeks before presidential elections, which Vladimir Putin is largely expected to win, Putin has pledged more defense spending and called for a stronger army, saying that diplomacy is fallible and Russia must rearm itself to prepare for new threats.

As Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected Russia’s new fleet of stealth fighter jets, he said that a stronger military would give Russia greater presence on the world stage.

Less than two weeks before presidential elections, which Vladimir Putin is largely expected to win, Putin has pledged more defense spending and called for a stronger army, saying that diplomacy is fallible and Russia must rearm itself to prepare for new threats.

As Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inspected Russia’s new fleet of stealth fighter jets, he said that a stronger military would give Russia greater presence on the world stage.

With barely two weeks to elections, Putin has pledged to spend 23 trillion rubles ($770 billion) on defense spending over the next 10 years, the biggest military spending since the Cold War.

Putin wrote in a state paper, the Rossiiskaya Gazeta:

[quote] New regional and local wars are being sparked before our very eyes. There are attempts to provoke such conflicts in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Russia and our allies. [/quote]

Putin added:

[quote] Within the next ten years, Russia’s armed forces will receive over 400 modern groun and sea-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), eight ballistic missile submarines, about 20 general purpose attack submarines, over 50 surface ships and some 100 military-purpose spacecraft. [/quote]

According to Russian newswire RTT, Putin’s article was published within a week of warning by Chief of Russian Defense Forces Gen. Nikolai Makarov that Russia would not hesistate to use nuclear weapons if any threat to its national security arose.

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If Putin’s plans are approved, it would add addition $120 billion to a $650 billion defense-spending increased pushed through last year.

Despite the sharp increase, which officials have warned may be unsustainable, Putin argues that the budget is necessary.

[quote] It’s obvious we won’t be able to develop our international position, our economy or democratic institutions if we cannot defend Russia. We must not tempt anyone with our weakness. [/quote]

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