The US announced that it will compensate countries that give up Russian weapons.
The United States plans to expand its program of informal financial assistance worldwide to countries willing to abandon the purchase of Russian weapons. Such assistance has previously been provided to Eastern European countries, former members of the Warsaw Pact, Defense One writes.
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The European Recapitalization Incentive Program (ERIP), launched in 2018, has been operating in six European countries: the United States pays them to give up Soviet-made infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and helicopters in order to buy American-made equipment.
For example, Slovakia received $50 million for helicopters, Croatia - $25 million for infantry fighting vehicles. Now the United States plans to expand the program worldwide.
“The goal is to help our partners break free of supply chains that allow Russian contractors and personnel to rely on Russian-made equipment to access NATO military bases,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The ERIP program works on the following criteria: participating countries must eliminate Russian-made equipment, not buy it in the future, and allocate part of state funds to buy American weapons. Here we are talking about large quantities.
“We will not buy one helicopter or two infantry fighting vehicles. Globalization of the program involves allocating to each country between $50 and $100 million to upgrade military equipment,” said the US official.
Countries that continue to buy spare parts for military equipment from Russia could face US sanctions, the US State Department said.
