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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia Plans Expanding Military Presence Abroad |
| 2014-02-27 |
| Russia is planning to expand its permanent military presence outside its borders by placing military bases in a number of foreign countries, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday. Shoigu said the list includes Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries. "The talks are under way, and we are close to signing the relevant documents," Shoigu told reporters in Moscow. The minister added that the negotiations cover not only military bases but also visits to ports in such countries on favorable conditions as well as the opening of refueling sites for Russian strategic bombers on patrol. Moscow currently has only one naval base outside the former Soviet Union -- in Tartus, Syria, but the fate of this naval facility is uncertain because of the ongoing civil war in that country. Post-Soviet Russia closed a large naval base in Vietnam and a radar base in Cuba in 2002 due to financial constraints. However, Russia has started reviving its navy and strategic aviation since mid-2000s, seeing them as a tool to project the Russian image abroad and to protect its national interests around the globe. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #11 They could give Venezuela a ship full of toilet paper in return for a naval base... They already set up Venezuela with a system that takes away all their toilet paper in return for an Iranian missile base. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-02-27 21:49 |
| #10 With what manpower? I thought they weren't keeping the units filled as it was. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2014-02-27 17:50 |
| #9 Singapore? Singapore has a large naval base near Changi Airport, which many countries use, including the USA. Singapore has no beef with Russia, so I assume they could use it. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2014-02-27 16:09 |
| #8 Leases? probably will pay them to use it, just like paying the scrap dealer to take the Forrestal. |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2014-02-27 14:41 |
| #7 They could give Venezuela a ship full of toilet paper in return for a naval base... |
| Posted by: Raj 2014-02-27 11:01 |
| #6 Man proposes, God disposes. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2014-02-27 10:21 |
| #5 We really should voice some objection when Champ leases NAS Pensacola to them. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-27 10:01 |
| #4 ..yes, and they found out before how expensive it gets. Everyone fracking isn't going to help their bottom line. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2014-02-27 09:57 |
| #3 It's happened before. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2014-02-27 08:24 |
| #2 JM, that sounds like a Tom Clancy scenario. Doubt that Russia and we will become BFFs however. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-02-27 07:53 |
| #1 Yuuuuppp. Rising Russia = Rising China + Rising Iran. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-02-27 01:47 |