Algeria will sign a huge contract with Russia to get arms supplies worth between $12-17 billion, media sources and RT have revealed.
Africa Intelligence newspaper reported that negotiations are underway on a framework agreement on Russian military supplies for Algeria for the next 10 years.
During the official visit of Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Moscow next December, the deal will be sealed.
Algerian officers are especially keen to acquire submarines, Su-57 (Sukhoi) stealth aircraft, Su-34 bombers, and Su-30 fighters.
Algeria also hopes to acquire new air defense systems, such as the S-400, the Viking, and the Antey-4000.
Algeria's military budget could increase by 130 percent, reaching $22.6 billion, as per the draft finance law of 2023.
This would make it Africa's largest military budget, according to RT.
US Ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin commented this week on a request presented last month by several US Congressmen demanding that Washington sanction Algiers for extensively trading arms with Russia, saying that part of her diplomatic job is to explain US law to Algerian officials.
“Algeria’s officials will then make sovereign decisions for this country,” she stressed in an interview with Interlignes.
Late last month, a number of US Congressmen, led by Republican Lisa McClain, addressed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, voicing their concerns over the recent reports on the ever-growing ties between Russia and Algeria.
The letter noted military arms deals struck between the two countries, stressing that last year alone, Algiers finalized an arms purchase with Moscow that totaled over $7 billion and it agreed to purchase advanced Russian fighter aircraft, including Sukhoi 57.
The co-signatories of the letter stressed that this military transfer has made Algeria the third largest recipient of Russian arms in the world.
They called for implementing the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that Congress passed in 2017.
“This legislation directs the US President to impose sanctions on individuals who knowingly, engage in a significant transaction with a person that is part of, or operates for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of the Russian government,” the co-signatories wrote in their letter.
