Implications of Exodus of Soviet-Era Weaponry Around the World to Ukraine

Since the beginning of the Ukraine War, all the former Soviet countries had been ejecting their soviet weapons to Ukraine, as military aid – and with the promise of free/discounted replacement with western/american models of similar, but modern type of the same weapons.

As the war drags on, European Soviet weapons are exhausted, but an Ukrainian victory is no where in sight; United States started to get soviet weaponry/ammunition from countries beyond Europe.

Rumors of Pakistani / Iraqi / Afghan soviet weaponry were even purchased and sent to Ukraine. Emphasize: Rumors.

In the latest “rumor”, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam had also been pressured by USA to send their weapons to Ukraine.

The thing about such trend, is not just the demilitarization of the countries giving up the weapons and the extension of the war in Ukraine: but one key thing is the transition of countries buying Russian for the military needs/services, to buying American.

It is unknown if USA would have the industrial capacity to fulfill such sudden increase in military orders – as even Russia provide rather terrible after sales service as huge percentage of Russian weapons goes into disrepair in many parts of the world – due to unavailability of spare parts (due to back log in orders). India is a victim of such issues previously (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/india-sukhoi-fighter-jets-spares-defence-ministry-2960457/)

The sudden increase in market share of military equipments for the Americans, while increase revenue/profits as well as influence for United States around the world – it also may cause diplomatic restrictions/limitations for the buying countries – like the situation faced by Turkey, Indonesia and Singapore.

The sluggish production speed had already prompted Poland to buy South Korean weaponry to fill in the gap that it would take before the American HIMARS and Abrams tanks to eventually arrive. Even the desperately needed promised Abrams to Ukraine is taking forever to arrive at the battle field.

It would be good considerations for countries around the world to strategize what would be the replacements for soviet/russian weaponry – in view of the increased diplomatic difficulties to procure such weapons or already under pressure by USA to give/sell it to Ukraine – where to procure their replacements.

There are a lot of good alternatives, like what Poland had discovered. (I recommend buying Singaporean military equipments. haha)

Buying Americans could actually become detrimental to national security as countries like Pakistan had found out. (https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pakistan-f-16-terror-iaf-indian-air-force-us-america-military-jammu-and-kashmir-pilot-aircraft-mea-mig-21-bison/373558)

Regardless the case, this “desovietisation” of military around the world is likely to continue, until it is geopolitically acceptable/viable to buy Russian again.