Russia finds itself navigating a tense security environment shaped by a long standing confrontation with the North Atlantic Alliance, yet Moscow emphasizes that its military industry remains largely self sustaining. In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council, outlined how the country builds most of its weapons at home while still maintaining international partnerships. The emphasis, he indicated, is on a strong domestic defense sector that provides autonomy and resilience, with foreign cooperation playing a supplementary role rather than a primary one. He pointed to a defense industrial base that has been reorganized and expanded in recent years, aimed at ensuring steady production even when external suppliers face policy or logistics hurdles. The overall message is one of readiness and capacity on a national scale, built through a combination of state support, parallel supply chains, and targeted international collaboration where it makes sense for specific systems or components. In his view, this model reflects not only practical necessity but a strategic preference to minimize exposure to external disruption while keeping modern weapons within reach for the armed forces. The remarks by Medvedev come at a time of intensified international competition for advanced technologies and critical materials, a context in which the Russian leadership frames domestic production as a foundation of deterrence and stability.
Asked whether Russia receives military equipment from partners such as the People’s Republic of China, North Korea or Iran, Medvedev acknowledged that cooperation with other states exists and is carefully managed. He described such exchanges as selective and purposeful, covering a limited range of items where foreign participation can add value without creating dependence. The deputy chairman suggested that collaborations of this kind help sustain particular platforms, supply lines, or specialized components that are not fully available through domestic channels, while the bulk of modern arms production remains firmly rooted in Russian industry. He reiterated that Moscow keeps a balanced approach that favors building up domestic capabilities first and only turning to international partners where it improves overall readiness, efficiency, and technology transfer within strict strategic guidelines. The framing was clear: foreign cooperation is a tool, not a substitute for comprehensive domestic capacity.
Medvedev spoke at length about the current security environment, noting that while the NATO alliance presents a broad political and military challenge, Moscow continues to adapt to evolving conditions. He emphasized that the majority of weapons and equipment used by the Russian armed forces are produced domestically, drawing on a long tradition of defense engineering, accumulated capabilities, and robust industrial networks. He stressed that this domestic production base is supported by state planning, investment, and a skilled workforce that keeps production lines humming even under sanctions or supply disruptions. Yet he did not rule out selective international cooperation with a few countries, arguing that such collaborations are pragmatic and targeted, designed to accelerate modernization, share best practices, and secure critical components without compromising strategic autonomy. In his assessment, the path forward for Russia combines a strong, self reliant core with carefully chosen external partnerships that strengthen specific programs while preserving national resilience in the face of external pressure.
News is being updated.