Russian Arms Exports and Export Credits

(International Herald Tribune, Paris, 29 December 2005) Russian arms exporters should get cheap government loans to help finance customer purchases, President Putin told a government panel on military issues on December 27, 2005. China and India are Russia's largest weapons customers. MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets and naval warships account for the bulk of sales, which have exceeded US$5 billion in each of the past three years. Such support would include export credit loans and guarantees.