We're continuing to discuss this matter with the experts. Editor-in-chief of the Natsionalnaya Oborona Magazine Igor Korotchenko is with us live.
— The US Armed Forces are fairly well-equipped as it is. What are the goals of the new US military budget?
Igor Korotchenko, Natsionalnaya Oborona Magazine: To confirm the American bid for the global leadership focusing on military strength, intimidation, and demonstrating the power of their military. By significantly increasing its military budget, the US officially and doctrinally declares its military and political enemies. Most certainly, Russia and China are on the list. Now, they will try to manipulate us and Beijing into a new arms race. In any case, we must understand that the policy of the US military establishment remains unchanged. They're upholding their status of the World Gendarme that's free to use military force whenever beneficial for the US interests, no longer political but economic ones. They'll use their military power to defend their economic interests and exert pressure against their rivals all over the world.
— Do you think America will build new military bases and deploy additional weapons to the countries that border with Russia?
— It's an ongoing and unrelenting process. New American bases are appearing in the Baltic countries and Poland. It seems that in the coming years, we'll see new global ABM systems being employed along the Russian borders and in the vicinity of China. Also, I'd like to point out that judging by the size of the new American military budget they will be developing laser systems capable of engaging low-flying targets like cruise missiles. They are preparing technologically for a new large-scale arms race. Again, Trump bets on the US military-industrial complex which, in this case, is the American engine of growth. In this regard, the budget will support the ambitions of the American military industry. Moreover, the US will be imposing harsh conditions for purchasing its weapons on its allies and satellite states.
— The Pentagon pays great attention to space. How soon can real weapons appear there?
— As soon as the US creates the necessary conditions first of all technological and acquires actual space-worthy prototypes it will deploy its weapon platforms in space equipped with laser and kinetic weapons, as well as other types of directed energy weapons. In this regard, we must clearly realize that the US will not limit its capabilities in space, as well as other areas that are now regulated by the international law and the agreements signed by the US describing its future intentions. As soon as America is advanced enough to deploy weapon platforms in space, it will instantly terminate all the agreements and initiate the process. Analyzing such threats, our political and military leaders must realize the future focus of the American military industry and the following risks and threats.
At the series of the meetings in Sochi, chaired by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the guests discussed how to alter the Russian state armaments program in order to prevent the US from making a unilateral technological leap and becoming the strongest player. I'd like to stress the fact that Russia spends much less money on national defense.
For comparison: The American military budget is approximately $720-730 billion, while we spend less than $50 billion, if we convert rubles into dollars. Even though there's a huge gap between the sums we're acting efficiently and asymmetrically without plunging into an open arms race but still supporting and ensuring the military-strategic parity that won't be broken in the next 30 years or more even at such low budget figures. The new strategic weapon systems that were announced by Putin during his Address to the Federation Council is a real contribution to the global peace and security and mankind's insurance against the Third World War that could be triggered by the forces that got ahead.
— Thank you, Igor. Editor-in-chief of the Natsionalnaya Oborona Magazine, Igor Korotchenko.
