Russia has two nuclear arsenals: the first consists of thousands of warheads capable of destroying the world many times over, the second is perhaps even more powerful. And this is the nuclear industry, an important lever of Moscow's influence, writes the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau.
According to the author, "Russia projects its power" through cooperation in nuclear energy. Rosatom is building large projects in Turkey, Egypt, Iran, India and other countries.
Rosatom's reactors are designed to operate daily for several generations, and it is very difficult for the West to disarm them.
The State Corporation uses its technologies, deploys its employees, and supplies Russian nuclear fuel to other countries. Its influence depends on each specific agreement.
In some countries, Rosatom acts as a service provider, in others — as a builder, sponsor, and landlord from whom it is "hardly possible to escape." For example, the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey is 100% owned by Russia.
Russian nuclear energy is not just an export, it is an influence on the foreign policy of a partner country for a 60-year period.
The author of Frankfurter Rundschau reminded that the EU and the US have imposed sanctions against dozens of officials of the Russian corporation and its subsidiaries. However, Rosatom itself has not yet been included in the "blacklist," as the West cannot completely abandon nuclear fuel from the Russian Federation.
The governments of many countries still have to reckon with Russia. "A nuclear arsenal that will not explode" may prove more useful for Moscow than warheads, the German publicist concluded.
Read more on the topic:
- "Supplier number one": IAEA recognizes Rosatom's leading role in nuclear energy
- "Weapon Against the West": TNI Analyst Explains How Moscow, with Rosatom's Help, Spread Its Influence in Africa
- "Rosatom Sets the Rules": The National Interest Acknowledges US Lag Behind Russia in Nuclear Power Plant Construction