Ecuador's £150m military deal with the US incites Russian ire and questions over arms destined for Ukraine
The Ecuadorian government has publicised its acceptance of an offer from Washington, which has pledged to substitute the ageing military equipment employed by the Ecuadorian army with modern American equipment for the sum of £150 million. Both parties agreed that the US acquisition from Ecuador would be shipped to Ukraine.
Russia's growing anger with Ecuador, with military ties to the US at the heart of it
"The Ecuadorian party took this rash decision under notable outside pressure. Our partners are very familiar with the stipulations of agreements that demand the utilisation of provided equipment for announced purposes and not to transfer it to third-party entities without gaining the suitable permissions of the Russian Federation," remarked Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as referenced by Reuters.
In an interview with Ecuavisa, President Daniel Noboa declared Russia's claims hold no substance. Ecuador is thoroughly cognisant of agreement terms and has informed all pertinent parties that the planned transfer to the US and Ukraine will consist of "junk," not military equipment. There are no rulings that prohibit these actions.
Several South American countries endeavour not to become implicated in the conflict in Ukraine or endanger their favourable relations with Russia. This posture was mainly observed in Brazil during the previous year. The equipment owned by the Ecuadorian army is predominantly composed of Russian/Soviet-originated weapons. Despite the official discussion revolving around the transference of defunct remnants to the US, ultimately, the aid for Ukraine may be significant. While it's probable that some of the equipment is not entirely operative, it's more likely to have been thoroughly inspected by US specialists and deemed fixable.
What weapons from Ecuador are likely to end up in Ukraine?
The US is set to acquire various items, including RPG-7s, MANPADS (handheld air defence missile systems), more substantial ZPU and ZU-23-2 air defence systems and self-propelled Osa air defence missile systems. Despite their age, these technologies remain a formidable weapon, which allows targets to be encountered from a distance of up to 15 kilometres (depending on the model). Their built-in radar enables target detection from an even greater distance - up to about 30 kilometres.
The finalised agreement is also predicted to cover multiple-rocket launchers BM-21 Grad, which are widely deployed in Ukraine, particularly by Russia. These utilise 122mm calibre rockets capable of bombarding targets from up to 21 kilometres away. They also offer the capability of firing a 40-rocket volley in 20 seconds. The engine fitted allows this roughly 15.4-tonne machinery to reach speeds up to approximately 75 kph.
Ecuador possesses Soviet-originated helicopters, including the Mi-17 and Mi-171E, which the media identified as components of the deal with the US. These machines are not unfamiliar to Ukraine, forming part of their inventory. Mi-17s are more prevalent, with the capacity to transport up to 4,500 kilograms of cargo or up to 36 fully equipped soldiers. They can achieve speeds of up to 249 kph and carry up to 1,500 kilograms of weapons.
