“Production of drones and ballistic missiles” –

China is helping Russia massively strengthen its military capabilities, to the point of enabling its largest military expansion since the Soviet Union. This is what the United States believes as it reports an increase in sales of machine tools, microelectronics and other technologies that Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, planes and other armaments for the war against Ukraine. And that’s why, US officials hope, European allies should put pressure on China to change course. Starting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who left today for a three-day visit to China during which he will meet Xi Jinping. To continue with the G7 Foreign Ministers, who will meet next week in Capri.

In particular, the United States says, China is helping Russia in drone production, space capabilities and ballistic missiles. American officials quoted on condition of anonymity by the Guardian believe that, without Chinese intervention, the Russian defense industry would have “suffered numerous setbacks.” But, thanks to China, “Russia is undertaking its most ambitious defense expansion since the Soviet era, and on a faster timescale than we thought possible at the start of this conflict.” The United States believes, an official explained, that “one of the moves we have available right now to support Ukraine and make a difference is to convince China to stop helping Russia rebuild its military industrial base.”

Because “Russia would struggle to sustain its war effort without China’s contribution.” In detail, American officials believe that China supplied Russia with more than 70 percent of the $900 million in machine tools, probably used to build ballistic missiles, in the last quarter of 2023. Furthermore, last year 90 percent One hundred of Russia’s imports of microelectronics, always used to produce missiles, tanks and planes, came from China. Beijing then stopped directly supplying weapons to Moscow after repeated warnings from Washington, so much so that Russia turned to North Korea and Iran. And he chose to send material which, apparently, has no military use.