Viktor Bout, Arms Dealer Exchanged for Brittney Griner, Now Supplying Weapons to Iranian-Backed Houthis
The game is back on for gun-running Russian arms dealer and former Brittney Griner hostage-Viktor Bout, who — in a twist that would not seem out of place pitting Forrest Gump against Octopussy — has found himself pitching the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen. It has fueled concerns that Russia could be drawn into the conflict in the wider Middle East. The Wall Street Journal, citing a Russian businessman who took part in Bouts negotiations, estimated the deal at $10 million of automatic weapons; reached deal is null.
Bout’s Arms Deal with Houthis
It is believed that Bout, who earned the nickname “Merchant of Death,” is trying to sell weapons to the Houthis, who are a terrorist organization in accordance with U.S. law. The Houthis have fought in various armed conflicts across the Middle East and are accused of launching several attacks targeting commercial and military vessels. Two Houthi envoys flew into Moscow in early August 2023 to seal the arms package, the reports said. It will apply to automatic rifles, including the AK-74, with shipments possibly beginning as soon as October under the guise of food supplies.
The deal, if finalized, would deepen tensions between the U.S. and Russia. The shipment has not yet been delivered, but is thought to have the tacit endorsement of Moscow, although it is not clear whether the Kremlin is directly implicated.
Release and Resumption of Arms Trading by Bout
Viktor Bout was arrested in 2008 and, following a decade-long battle by the U.S. to have him extradited, he was convicted of conspiring in 2011 to kill Americans with anti-aircraft missiles, as well as providing arms to Colombian rebels. He served 12 years, walking free in December 2022 as part of an exchange for U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner. Fears grew at the time that Bout might revert to arms smuggling.
Since his release, Bout has tried his hand at politics, entering a pro-Kremlin ultranationalist party and securing a local assembly seat. Regardless, Bout’s role in the illicit arms trade appears to have widened again, especially with the Houthis.
What Bout’s Arms Deal Means
The consequences of Bout’s negotiations with the Houthis could be far-reaching in other Middle Eastern conflicts. The Houthis have made several Red Sea attacks, some on Israeli or American ships. The attacks have also had economic side effects, with a decrease in the number of ships passing through the Red Sea and raised insurance premiums for transits. The U.S. and its allies have responded with counterassaults to stem the Houthi advance, which has agitated northern Yemen even more.
This creates a higher level of complexity because it support his efforts, or at least does not interfere. Were the arms deal pass, it might to further escalation in IRB without other countries being drawn in.
Conclusion
The return of Viktor Bout to guns deal, most notably with Iran-backed Houthis, has elevated the alarms about Russia’s place in Middle Eastern conflicts. And after a reported $10 million was offered in exchange for the deal there could be tragic violence as tempers continue to fray. This comes as the saga of Bout continues to play out, and the U.S. and allies watch his actions in Africa closely for any connection with Russia.
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