MOSCOW, July 30. /TASS/. The Russian military in the future hope to take part in open competitions with the colleagues from Western Europe and the United States, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday.
"I believe that the time will come when our colleagues from Western European countries and the United States will decide to have an open competition with us. It’s a kind of challenge to our colleagues. We are ready to come to their military ranges and demonstrate who is better, who is more powerful," Antonov told a news conference devoted to the upcoming International Army Games.
"The upcoming games will demonstrate the combat capabilities of modern military hardware. Frankly, not all countries have decided to come to us, not only because of political, but also because of military-technical concerns. Some states did not hide that if they lose the competition to Russia, their equipment will have less export opportunities, as a result of which they may lose millions," said the deputy defense minister.
Almost 60 teams from 17 countries will participate in the International Army Games, which Russia will host in the first half of August, Chief of the Russian General Staff, Colonel General Valery Gerasimov said at a briefing for military attaches on Tuesday. "The first International Army Games will involve 57 teams from 17 states and 20 groups of observers from six countries representing Europe, Asia, Arica and Latin America," he said. Overall, more than 2,000 foreign servicemen will take part in the competition, according to the 2015 Army Games Organising Committee.
The International Army Games will be held at 10 Russian military ranges. In addition to the teams of the Russian Armed Forces, the military of Angola, Armenia, Venezuela, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kuwait, Mongolia, Serbia and Tajikistan will take part in the competitions.