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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Israel blocks arms sales to Georgia |
| 2008-08-11 |
| Israel is to stop selling military equipment to Georgia after a complaint from Moscow. The arms ban includes sales of unmanned spy planes – several of which have been shot down over Abkhazia during recent tensions between Georgia and its breakaway republics. The Ministry of Defence in Israel imposed the weapons embargo after ministers in Jerusalem received complaints from Russia. The ban prohibits the sale of Hermes 450 UAV spy drones, made by Elbit Maarahot Systems Ltd. The decision to cut the trade is thought to be linked to growing tensions in the Caucasus and Russia’s reaction to flights of unmanned drones over the demilitarized zone between the Georgia and Abkhazia. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livny is reported to have reluctantly made the decision to cut arms supplies to Tbilisi after consultations with Russia. Moscow reminded the Israeli government that it had refrained from selling certain kinds of weapons to states that could threaten Israel. Russia said it had every right to expect Jerusalem to reciprocate the goodwill. With tension rising in Georgia’s breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Israel’s leadership has been facing a tricky choice between Russia and Georgia. Russia’s barely hidden threat had the desired effect and Jerusalem opted for a ban on arms sales to Georgia. Georgia has become a real goldmine for Israeli arms dealers, who will suffer because of the embargo. Tbilisi had placed orders with several Israeli military manufacturers. Among the weaponry ordered were 70 million rifle cartridges, Merkava tanks, APCs, helicopters, UAVs, fire control systems and night-vision devices. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #9 They never annexed Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary etc. Anyway, I'm thinking the Soviet-Finish model. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-08-11 13:23 |
| #8 I doubt the Russians want to annex Georgia. This is about punishment, a brutal mauling by the bear, to serve as an example. They'll withdraw in a few days. In a few months time, all the support for Saakashvili will have evaporated as the loss of territory sinks in and normal political activity resumes. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-08-11 10:38 |
| #7 Also, since Georgia is not going to exists as an independent country, who's going to pay for it? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-08-11 10:30 |
| #6 Well, Russia's already sending lots of arms to Syria and Iran atm _anyway_; most of the artillery park Hezbollah has lined up for the Next War comes from Russia to begin with. None of it came from Georgia, AFAIK. |
| Posted by: Abdominal Snowman 2008-08-11 09:56 |
| #5 why the need for elaborate explanations when the Russian blackmail is stated right there in the article? Do you think the Russians WOULDNT increase arms to Syria and Iran in response? Do you think thats NOT a concern to Israel? |
| Posted by: superstitiousGalitizianer 2008-08-11 09:22 |
| #4 The pipeline project linking Turkey to Israel originally proposed by Israel at the time was an underwater pipeline from the Turkish terminal of Ceyhan to the port of Haifa. Indian Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said in the first week of June that India was considering a proposal from Israel for the supply of oil from the BTC pipeline. Israel has told the Indian government that a pipeline between Turkey and Israel will deliver oil to the Israeli port of Eilat, from where it could be shipped to India. All the proWestern states in the region seem keen to cash in on the black gold that promises to start flowing soon from Baku. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-08-11 09:16 |
| #3 are they beholden to Moscow for energy or something? Israel's Energy Ambitions As is the case with Turkey, Israel is another Mediterranean country seeking to capitalize on geopolitics with regard to the B.T.C. pipeline. Israel imports nearly all of its needed oil -- about 300,000 barrels per day -- with 20 percent coming from Azerbaijan. In recent weeks, Azerbaijan announced that it would be increasing its exports to Israel via the B.T.C. Israel currently imports much of its oil and gas via the Tipline, which extends from Ashkelon on the Mediterranean coast to Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba and leads into the Red Sea. Tel Aviv and Ankara recently announced in April plans to carry water, electricity, natural gas and oil to Israel by way of a proposed Ceyhan-Ashkelon-Eilat passage. Such a corridor would be controlled by Israel, which many consider a favorable prospect for Western interests, and would allow for the shipment of Caspian and Central Asian gas and oil to Asian markets including India, Japan and South Korea, thereby bypassing Russia entirely. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-08-11 09:11 |
| #2 Quid pro quo for the Russians slow rolling Teheran on nuke equipment I suspect. But that's just an uneducated guess. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-08-11 08:32 |
| #1 I find this surprising, are they beholden to Moscow for energy or something? |
| Posted by: Lonzo Unolump2106 2008-08-11 07:51 |