The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugaev, CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergei Chemezov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Presidential Aide – Head of the Presidential State-Legal Directorate Larisa Brychyova, Head of the Presidential Directorate for State Defence Industry Policy Viktor Yevtukhov, and CEO of Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues,
We are holding another meeting of the Commission for Military Technical Cooperation with Foreign States. First and foremost, we will review our performance in 2025 and outline plans for the period ahead.
I would like to note that throughout this period, the military technical cooperation system continued to operate under challenging conditions. Pressure from Western countries on our partners, aimed at obstructing and blocking their business ties with Russia, not only persisted but intensified.
Nevertheless, despite these attempts, our export contracts were, on the whole, fulfilled reliably. Last year, Russian military products were supplied to more than 30 countries, while foreign currency revenues exceeded $15 billion.
These results create additional opportunities to channel resources into modernising defence industry enterprises, expanding their production capacities, and advancing cutting-edge scientific research. It is also important to emphasise that these enterprises manufacture a substantial volume of civilian products. In addition, I would like to note that a significant portfolio of new export orders was formed over the past year.
Thus, the Russian military technical cooperation system has not only demonstrated its effectiveness and high degree of resilience. Equally important, a solid foundation has been laid that allows for significantly expanding both the scope and geography of military product deliveries. This enhances Russia’s position as a reliable partner, as well as a developer and manufacturer of advanced weapons systems – those that have been proven and tested in real combat conditions.
I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation and Rosoboronexport, as well as to the teams of defence industry enterprises, for their dedicated efforts. I wish you continued success in your endeavours.
I would like to emphasise that the stable and uninterrupted operation of defence industry enterprises, including the fulfillment of export obligations, has been achieved largely due to prompt government support measures. Additional forms of support are planned under a new federal project, Development of Russia’s Military Technology Cooperation with Foreign States, scheduled for 2026–2028. It is critically important to continue the effective use of existing financial and other support mechanisms and tools, especially given that military export volumes are expected to grow substantially in line with the plan for 2026, which we will finalise and approve today.
Particular attention will also be given to the work on expanding military and technological cooperation and partnerships. At present, more than 340 such projects with 14 countries are either underway or in the development phase. I am positive that joint efforts in this area will boost the performance of existing weapons systems and military equipment while facilitating the creation of new advanced models, including those that are in demand on international markets.
Colleagues,
Another key item on today’s agenda is the development of strategic avenues for Russia’s military technical cooperation, particularly with our partners within the CIS and the CSTO. This work is our priority for strengthening both bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as for ensuring stability and security across Eurasia.
Starting January 1, 2026, Russia has assumed the chairmanship of the CSTO; this places an obligation on us to engage in consistent cooperation with our partners, including through comprehensive approaches to expanding military technical ties. We have already addressed this issue, and today we will review the current situation in greater detail.
New opportunities are also emerging to deepen military technical cooperation with countries in other regions across the globe, including those in Africa. We highly value our long-standing, friendly, and genuinely trusting relationships with African states. In previous years, the USSR, and later Russia, supplied African states with substantial volumes of weapons and military equipment, trained specialists in their production, operation, and maintenance, and prepared military personnel.
Today, despite pressure from Western countries, our African partners are demonstrating a willingness to expand cooperation with Russia in both military and military technical fields. This includes not only increasing exports of Russian military products, but also the procurement of other weapons, materials, and related goods. This encompasses comprehensive maintenance of previously supplied equipment and the organisation of licensed production of our military products, as well as certain other issues; there are quite a number of them for our consideration today.
Let us get down to work. Thank you.
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