Russia risks losing GLONASS stations in Argentina
The State Duma approved an agreement with Argentina on cooperation in the field of research and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The agreement allows Russia, in particular, to install GLONASS ground stations on Argentine territory.
However, before the vote, LDPR deputy Anton Morozov spoke with a warning - he warned that the situation in Latin American countries is unstable, and, in the event of a coup in Argentina, Russia risks losing significant funds invested in GLONASS stations.
“It causes some confusion in terms of the fact that Roscosmos systematically includes in such agreements the issues of placement of GLONASS ground stations. This is very important work, indeed this system, GLONASS technology needs to be developed and implemented throughout the world, but at the same time it is no secret to anyone (this information is in the public domain) that GLONASS technology is a dual-use technology and can be used not only for civilian purposes, but also for military purposes.
Therefore, when we write into an international agreement the use of dual-use technology, and the agreement is called “Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes,” then there are certain risks.
They are connected with something - the fact is that in Latin America some regimes are quite unstable and periodically change their orientation. Now we have good relations with the Argentine Republic and are friendly and disposed to constructive cooperation. But it is unknown what will happen in the coming years.
If representatives of pro-American forces come to power, it is possible that the United States may force the Argentine authorities to reconsider this protocol and prove that the technology cannot relate to this protocol, being a dual-use technology. There have already been such precedents.
As is known, the US State Department prohibited the deployment of GLONASS base stations on its territory; in response, the Russian Federation suspended the deployment of base stations of the American GPS system on our territory.
Of course, there are certain risks, so I would recommend that Roscosmos treat public money more responsibly, because if the technology is recognized by the Argentine military authorities, they may consider the installation of the station illegal. Accordingly, we will lose the property complex and technological advantages from the placement of GLONASS ground stations.
It is necessary to place these stations under a separate agreement or within the framework of military-technical cooperation,” Morozov said.
However, the majority of deputies ignored the remark and supported the agreement with Argentina in its original form.
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