From Newsweek.

Russia is planning to strengthen its presence in the arms dealing market across Africa, Asia and Latin America, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who addressed members of the Kremlin’s commission for military cooperation with foreign states at the commission’s first annual meeting in Moscow last night.

“Today, new factors and threats necessitate many countries in the world to change their military doctrines and to modernize their national armed forces,” Putin said.

“Russia is going to expand its presence on budding markets such as the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean basin,” Putin added, also telling the committee that Russia will “use its reputation” to leverage deals with new partners…

…Andrew Smith from the U.K.-based NGO, Campaigns Against Arms Trade, expressed serious concern at the Russian president’s announcement.

“Russia is already a major arms exporter, and has a history of selling weapons to some of the most oppressive regimes in the world, including Syria and Iran,” he said.

Read more at Newsweek.