INTERVIEW: US Refusal to Host GLONASS Base a Form of Competition with Russia

The refusal by the United States to place base stations for Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system on its territory is a form of competition, explained by Washington's fear of losing market monopoly enjoyed by its own GPS system, Ilya Rogachev, director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s department of new challenges and threats, told RIA Novosti.

"The refusal [by the US] is based on the law that introduced amendments to the military budget for the fiscal year and was passed after our address. And now, Washington says that it cannot accommodate such stations due to national legislation," Rogachev said.

"This is, of course, an unfair collaboration. In my view, this is a form of a competition. The US would not benefit from disturbing the GPS system's monopoly in the market of relevant services. But it will not survive long anyway, because there is already the European Galileo system and China’s Beidou. GLONASS is the most advanced among them. So the US is putting a break on our project, but it is not an invincible obstacle," he said.

Russia responded to the US’ refusal by taking the American GPS navigation system under full state control and banning the use of GPS on the Russian territory for military purposes.

The US has until August 31 to resolve the GLONASS stationing issue.

The GLONASS network, which was put into operation in 1993, is considered Russia’s answer to GPS. The network provides real-time positioning and speed data for surface, sea and airborne objects.