Putin pledges to rebuild Russia's military

Friday, October 29, 1999

MOSCOW -- Russia has pledged to rebuild its military.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told officers in Russia Far East that the government has concluded that it must rebuild its forces to combat growing domestic instability. He said military spending would be increased by 57 percent to 146 billion roubles [$5.7 billion] in 2000.

"The government has undertaken to rebuild and strengthen the military might of the state to respond to new geopolitical realities, both external and internal threats," Putin said. "If we let our defence potential weaken, our independence as a sovereign state will be compromised."

Putin said the buildup is part of a new military strategy by the government that has assessed that Moscow must reassert its might. "Events in the North Caucasus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan testify that new threats have emerged on our southern frontiers," Putin said. "Developments in Europe, in Yugoslavia, also prompt a lot of thought."

Putin boarded a rocket-carrying cruiser and watched several missile launches. Last month, he sent troops into rebel Chechnya to pursue Islamic rebels. "You should always fight terrorism to the end and you should always keep your gunpowder dry," he said.