A new report suggests Russia's military could get a technological boost if President Donald Trump lifts sanctions placed on America's Cold War foe by his predecessor.
Defense One examines the possibility and cites U.S. defense officials who say it could happen.
"We have restricted sensitive technologies and we have gotten our allies and partners to go along with the restriction of those sensitive technologies to Russia, and that is impacting their development of next-generation programs and weapons systems," a senior defense official told the website.
The restrictions were put in place after Russia took control of Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine, a strategically located peninsula jutting into the Black Sea. Trump has expressed a willingness to work closer together with Russia and its President Vladimir Putin over the coming years.
That has the potential to provide Russia with some help in weapons development. According to Defense One, that list includes computer technologies for counter surveillance use, smart bombs, and equipment that would enhance the lethality of drones.
"Look at how many Russian agents have been busted trying to procure such technologies illegally from the U.S.," the defense official said, alluding to a Department of Justice announcement last October that Russian agents were trying to steal U.S. military technology. "If these things were of marginal impact or they could easily get them elsewhere, they would not subject themselves to such significant risk trying to procure them illegally."
Russia has upped its military presence in the Middle East over the last several months, and even sent a military flotilla through the English Channel on its way to the Persian Gulf.
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