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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Russia to Establish Naval Base in Syria |
| 2006-06-02 |
| Russia has begun works in the Syrian port of Tartus seeking to built a full-scale naval base for the ships of the Black Sea Fleet, currently based in UkraineÂ’s Sevastopol, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources in the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Russian Navy. The paper noted that this is the first time Russia is setting up a military base outside the CIS since the fall of the USSR and that the base will allow Moscow to pursue its own line in the Middle East. Russia has also started work in the port of Latakia in Syria, the newspaper said. The base in Tartus and the new mooring in Latakia will be able to serve the needs of the Black Sea Fleet and possibly the North Sea Fleet as well. The newspaper quoted its sources as saying that in the nearest future the Russian Navy will form a squadron headed by the Moskva missile cruiser which will permanently operate in the Mediterranean, taking part in joint exercises with NATO forces. The sources said that the new base would allow Russia to strengthen its positions in the Middle East and also enhance Syrian security. Russian Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Russian Navy force have declined to give any official comments on the report. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #15 We could make some money towing their fleet to Syria for them. Considering how many of their vessels are resting their keels on the harbor bottom, I'd say we should start with a nice order of gas powered bilge pumps first. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-06-02 18:24 |
| #14 We could make some money towing their fleet to Syria for them. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-02 16:39 |
| #13 Let's hope Putin continues to see the WoT as a threat to everyone's prosperity and not give in to greed and corruption by dealing with the Islamic devils. You've got to be kidding. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-06-02 15:59 |
| #12 Putin's in denial. He bought into the Phrench way of world affairs, try to be a player by interfering with everyone else. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-06-02 15:29 |
| #11 First of all, Putin's kidding himself. Nobody fears Russia's military. It's Navy is more pathetic than its arny, which barely controls its own territory in the Caucuses. Putin himself has loudly lamented the country's demographic problem, which undermines any attempt at military build-up. Second, Russian ships operating out of Syria taking part in NATO exercises? What a joke. More like shadowing NATO exercises. |
| Posted by: DoDo 2006-06-02 12:04 |
| #10 Additional information here: Russia May Relocate Black Sea Fleet to Syrian Port Russia has started dredging at a Syrian port where it maintains a logistical supply point with a possible eye to turning it into a full-fledged naval base, a respected Russian business daily said Friday, according to the Russian Journal. Tartus, the second most important Syrian port on the Mediterranean, could be transformed into a base for Black Sea Fleet warships when they are redeployed from the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, Kommersant daily said, quoting sources in RussiaÂ’s diplomatic service and the Defense Ministry. Moscow plans to deploy an S-300PMU-2 Favorit air-defense system to protect the base, the paper said, adding that the system will be operated by Russian servicemen and not be handed over to Syria. At the same time, sources close to the matter said Moscow and Damascus had reached an agreement to modernize SyriaÂ’s antiaircraft system using medium-range S-125 missile complexes that were deployed in the 1980s. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-06-02 11:56 |
| #9 Doesn't OBL's summers sound like John Kerrys? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-06-02 11:06 |
| #8 Russia still want to cozy up to every reprobate in the world? Good to see things havent changed that much in the last 15 years. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-06-02 10:53 |
| #7 Latakia is OBL's mother's home, as well as his first wife's. I read he used to spend summers there as a youth, riding horses and hanging out on a lake in the region. His father was once a dockworker in Yemen, too. It's a good strategic move for Russia. Let's hope Putin continues to see the WoT as a threat to everyone's prosperity and not give in to greed and corruption by dealing with the Islamic devils. Russia could be an ally in a difficult region, but their destiny is at a crossroads again. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2006-06-02 10:52 |
| #6 We are not going to destro Syria before they build that base, and that will make it difficult to do anything about Syria in the WOT. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2006-06-02 10:46 |
| #5 Latakia was their base, I thought. At least, when I played "Harpoon" I always saved a nuke for Latakia. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-06-02 10:45 |
| #4 But...but...the Cold War is over. The Russians are our friends! |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-06-02 10:36 |
| #3 The Russians have a very deep death wish. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-06-02 10:21 |
| #2 Hands off Latakia, that's property of the Kurd Republic. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-06-02 10:10 |
| #1 Didnt they have bases there back in the 70s? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2006-06-02 09:18 |