Putin welcomes military-tech cooperation in emerging multipolar world – Defence Connect

President Putin made the comments during his opening address at the “Army 2023” International Military Technical Forum being held in Patriot Park, Moscow, in Russia this week.

More than 28,500 samples of military and dual-use products supplied by 1,500 Russian defence industry enterprises are reportedly on show at the forum.

“Russia is open to deepening its technological partnerships and military-technical cooperation with other countries on equal terms, and to working with all those seeking to assert their national interests and independent development path,” Mr Putin said in his opening address.

“All countries that believe that working together to build an equal and indivisible security framework is essential as a reliable safeguard for every state.

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“We offer our partners a wide range of up-to-date weapons of almost all kinds and types. This includes the latest control systems, intelligence systems, high-precision weapons and robotics.”

President Putin placed particular importance to unmanned aerial vehicles, defence industry diversification, and the development of artificial intelligence technology.

“Russia has something to offer in these promising groundbreaking areas. Every year, we see a growing market for AI-enabled products,” he said.

“We are also pleased with more and more foreign defence companies joining the forum. Last year, 32 foreign participants exhibited their products here; this year, their number has grown to 82.

“We intend to continue taking advantage of the already established cooperation ties as well as to create new ones based on many years of successful experience of mutually beneficial partnerships.

“We propose developing cooperation in a variety of areas, including personnel training, training foreign military personnel and improving their qualifications, conducting joint command post and other joined exercises. I am sure that this event will help strengthen military and military technical partnerships for the benefit of security and stability in the emerging multipolar world.”

The announcement coincides with organised visits between Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, and Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu.

General Shangfu will reportedly attend the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security and visit military units in Belarus this month to meet with defence department leadership.

The People’s Republic of China Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, said the cooperation between Chinese and Russian militaries is “completely different from the practices of some other countries that cling to the Cold War mentality, engage in camp confrontation, and bully hegemony everywhere.”