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What is Russia's geopolitical angle here? The gulf between peaceful nuclear program and weapons-grade nuclear program is vast and easily detectable. >A Plenar

What is Russia's geopolitical angle here? The gulf between peaceful nuclear program and weapons-grade nuclear program is vast and easily detectable. >A Plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies on Monday, June 15, 2020, voted the law approving the ratification of the agreement between Rwanda and Russia, on cooperation in the construction of the Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology on the territory of Rwanda. >The agreement was signed in the Russian city Sochi, on October 24, 2019. >The Centre will develop integrated nuclear energy solutions which the Ministry of Infrastructure expects to be beneficial to the advancement of several sectors of the economy especially agriculture, healthy, education, sciences and industry.

krastanov 6y ago
Russian companies build reactors and other similar tech. Like any other country, Russia is helping domestic industry grow. Same thing done by most big European countries, the US, China, etc.
- ciarannolan 6y ago
  Do you mean they're helping their domestic peaceful nuclear energy industry grow?
  - FpUser 6y ago
    It is a mutually beneficial deal. Nobody's "helping" anyone here.
    - jacobr1 6y ago
      The "help" is the government supporting a private enterprise. Cronyism that "helps" the political class and the company, but possibly not Russian citizens. Or maybe it does. Maintaining a domestic nuclear industry is certainly strategic.
      - FpUser 6y ago
        All big strategic companies are supported by their respective governments one or the other way. Nothing is wrong about it. And the Government will have their cut in return eventually. I think it helps Joe Schmoe in the end as well.
  - atlasunshrugged 6y ago
    They probably are, it still helps them project geopolitical power, maybe earns them some money (although who knows, it may be mostly free and they get something else in return). Plus, a somewhat educated guess tells me that even their domestic peaceful nuclear industry is closely related to the highest levels of government and follows their strategic goals just as the military would.
- atlasunshrugged 6y ago
  On top of that, Russia probably is concerned that they have few global strategic partners and is on the hunt for allies wherever they can find them. Although Rwanda probably can't help out in too many places (eg. additional ports in Africa like the Chinese and other are trying to secure in places like Djibouti) it is still part of the UN and could help project power in the region & serve as an example of the kind of support Russia can give to Africa. I think in S. Africa they're trying to engage in military partnerships and recently sent a few bombers down. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/21/russian-bombers-land-south-africa-during-unprecedented-deployment.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/21/russian-bombe...
ReptileMan 6y ago
>What is Russia's geopolitical angle here? Nuclear reactors are big and expensive. And Africa will need lots of them for baseload if they are to catch up with the rest of the world economically. Because unfortunately EU and USA nuclear industry is politically blocked - the competition in Africa will be between Russia and China

krastanov 6y ago

Russian companies build reactors and other similar tech. Like any other country, Russia is helping domestic industry grow. Same thing done by most big European countries, the US, China, etc.

ciarannolan 6y ago
Do you mean they're helping their domestic peaceful nuclear energy industry grow?
- FpUser 6y ago
  It is a mutually beneficial deal. Nobody's "helping" anyone here.
  - jacobr1 6y ago
    The "help" is the government supporting a private enterprise. Cronyism that "helps" the political class and the company, but possibly not Russian citizens. Or maybe it does. Maintaining a domestic nuclear industry is certainly strategic.
    - FpUser 6y ago
      All big strategic companies are supported by their respective governments one or the other way. Nothing is wrong about it. And the Government will have their cut in return eventually. I think it helps Joe Schmoe in the end as well.
- atlasunshrugged 6y ago
  They probably are, it still helps them project geopolitical power, maybe earns them some money (although who knows, it may be mostly free and they get something else in return). Plus, a somewhat educated guess tells me that even their domestic peaceful nuclear industry is closely related to the highest levels of government and follows their strategic goals just as the military would.
atlasunshrugged 6y ago
On top of that, Russia probably is concerned that they have few global strategic partners and is on the hunt for allies wherever they can find them. Although Rwanda probably can't help out in too many places (eg. additional ports in Africa like the Chinese and other are trying to secure in places like Djibouti) it is still part of the UN and could help project power in the region & serve as an example of the kind of support Russia can give to Africa. I think in S. Africa they're trying to engage in military partnerships and recently sent a few bombers down. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/21/russian-bombers-land-south-africa-during-unprecedented-deployment.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/21/russian-bombe...

ReptileMan 6y ago

>What is Russia's geopolitical angle here? Nuclear reactors are big and expensive. And Africa will need lots of them for baseload if they are to catch up with the rest of the world economically. Because unfortunately EU and USA nuclear industry is politically blocked - the competition in Africa will be between Russia and China