Does China produce military drones that it exports to Russia? For European Union (EU) foreign ministers, this is becoming less and less doubtful, after analysis of data transmitted by European intelligence agencies. For China, this is “unfounded speculation”. On Monday, November 18, meeting in Brussels, the heads of EU diplomacy sought to take stock of the subject and find a response to provide to Beijing.
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Like the Reuters news agency revealed at the end of September, a subsidiary of the Russian state-owned arms company Almaz-Antey, called Kupol, has developed and tested in China a new long-range combat drone called Garpiya-3 (G3). This drone can transport an explosive device weighing 50 kilos over a distance of up to 2,000 kilometers. By September, this company was ready to begin mass production of these weapons to potentially equip the Russian army.
Despite the denials of China which judged, Monday, through Lin Jian, the spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that Beijing “manages the export of military products prudently and responsibly”this information appears “convincing” in the eyes of European diplomats. Even if one of them confides: “We do not have proof that these military drones were used against Ukraine, unlike, for example, Iranian drones. The Ukrainians have, until now, not found the remains of these devices on the battlefield. »
“We must be firm”
This did not prevent German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock from warning: “We have decided on new sanctions against Iran [contre certains ports et navires iraniens] and we will also be clear regarding Chinese assistance with drones, because this too must and will have consequences. »
By helping Russia to arm itself, “China is weakening European security”for his part recalled Caspar Veldkamp, the head of Dutch diplomacy. “It is important to send a message to China” warning her “against any escalation”completed the Italian Antonio Tajani. “China is one of the main supporters of Russia’s military activity in Ukraine. Therefore, we must be firm”declared the Lithuanian Gabrielius Landsbergis.
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