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  • Russia building naval base in Syria - report

    Russia building naval base in Syria - report

    Russian magazine reports Moscow planning to turn Syrian port into permanent naval base; Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson denies report

    Vera Yadidya
    Latest Update: 06.02.06, 23:42

    Russian magazine Kommersant reported Friday that the Russian army is laying the groundwork for building the Syrian port of Tartus, in the north of the country.

    Russia maintained a base in the port since the days of the Soviet Union, the report said, adding that Moscow could be planning to turn the port into a naval base where ships withdrawn from Sevastopol in Ukraine can anchor.

    Vladimir Zimin, a senior economic advisor at the Russian Embassy in Damascus, confirmed the plans to the magazine.

    The move was said to be part of Russia's effort to boost its influence in the Middle East and safeguard Syria.

    ”As an official at Russian naval headquarters explained, the creation in Tartus of a fully fledged naval base should help Russia redeploy the naval and supply ships leaving Sevastopol,” Kommersant said.

    Russian military engineers will install an air defense system with S-300PMU-2 Favorit ballistic missiles at the port to protect Russian naval ships, the magazine reported.

    ”For the first time since the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia will create its own military base outside former Soviet borders, which will allow Moscow to conduct its own political game in the Middle East,” the newspaper added.

    The Russian Defense Ministry categorically denied the report, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

    "This is an absolutely false report that has no foundation whatsoever," Defense Ministry spokesperson Vyacheslav Sedov told Novosti.

    Russia has also agreed to upgrade Syria's aerial defense systems, which Moscow supplied in 2005, and its fleet of 1,000 T-72 tanks.

    Syria is also trying to convince Moscow to sell it two submarines and to upgrade its fleet of MiG 29 fighter jets, the magazine added.
    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

  • #2
    I think it's supposed to be a sort of protest against NATO buildup along the Russian border, since Kremlin has it's reasons to be concerned about International community openly criticizing the Russian democracy. As for the Russian democracy - it's far better than the one Russia had during Yeltsin period, where the country was on the brink of a total collapse. I'm not saying it's ideal - there is still Mafia and corruption but it is more or less stable. And I seriously doubt that the Russians would attempt some red storm rising, even if they were in position to do so, since they also have China to worry about (Which claims that Siberia is their land taken away by the Russians).
    Last edited by Gaskin; 28 Dec 06,, 22:23.
    I'm sorry for my English - can make grammar mistakes sometimes :(

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    • #3
      Hmm, thought this sounded familiar...

      http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/showthread.php?t=12651
      "We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way." -President Barack Obama 11/25/2008

      Comment


      • #4
        Here's a pretty good analysis of the situation from MDB (a year old, but still interesting):
        Russia in the Mediterranean

        Mikhail Barabanov

        In June 2006, Russian newspaper Kommersant unveiled Russian plans to upgrade the servicing station it has maintained since Soviet times at the Syrian port of Tartus. The short-term goal is to enable Russian ships to dock at Tartus, with a view to its transformation into a fully-fledged naval base. Kommersant’s unidentified source in the General Staff said the Navy plans eventually to relocate the bulk of the Black Sea Fleet, currently in Sevastopol, to Syria.

        Russia has already undertaken to deepen the port to permit the docking of its largest fighting ships, and to build a stationary mooring place. Moscow has also begun work on a new mooring at the Syrian port of Latakia, which could also be used in the future to base fighting ships. In this respect it is worth noting that the Black Sea Fleet Project 1164 Moskva guide missile cruiser called on Latakia in February 2006. Kommersant got its information about the work at Tartus from Vladimir Zimin, the Russian Embassy’s senior counselor for economic issues in Syria.

        According to Kommersant’s source in the General Staff, Moscow plans over the course of the next three years to establish a Naval Squadron led by the Moskva guided missile cruiser, currently the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet. This squadron would be permanently based in the Mediterranean Sea to participate in the NATO’s anti-terrorist Active Endeavour, and other operations.

        For this reason, the base in Tartus and the mooring under construction in Latakia are needed for the full servicing of the Black Sea Fleet, and in the future, of the Northern Fleet ships that will reinforce the Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean. Tartus is being prepared as the base for this squadron. Anti-air defence for these forces will be upgraded to the new S-300PMU2 Favorit (SA-20) SAM systems.

        The sharp escalation of military-technical cooperation between Syria and Russia lends credence to these reports. The reported timeline for the upgrade of the servicing center into a base was repudiated by the press service of the Russian MoD, but the fact of growing Russian naval and construction activity in Tartus and Latakia is not in question. At the same time, one must keep in mind that the mere designation of such sites as a “servicing point,” a “mooring station” or a “naval base” is quite loose and does not in itself determine or restrict the actual range of activities that could go on there. Even if a group of ships and support forces were actually based in Tartus, their official place of registration could remain in Sevastopol, which suggests that their stay in Syria could be only temporary. So, in any case, it is unlikely that conditions would be established in Tartus for permanent residence of the crew or serious ship repair capability, both of which are necessary for the full scale functioning of a military naval base.

        Nevertheless, the appearance of Russian ships in Tartus for any period of time would represent a dramatic reinforcement of Russia’s naval potential in the Mediterranean Sea, even when compared to the cold war period. It is worth recalling that permanent access to the Mediterranean has been the dream of Russia’s rulers for several centuries. Already in the second half of the 18th century for operations against Turkey, squadrons of the Baltic Fleet were sent to the Mediterranean. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Russian forces in the Mediterranean came to the aid of Greece, linked through dynastic ties to the Romanovs. In 1913 an agreement was reached with France for the basing of Russian ships at Bizerta (Tunisia) but this agreement came to nothing as a consequence of the First World War and the Russian Revolution. As a sad irony, Bizerta was the last port of call for those Black Sea Fleet ships controlled by the White Forces leaving Sevastopol at the end of 1920.

        The rebirth of Russia’s naval presence in the Mediterranean began in the 1950s with the aim of countering NATO forces and to support Moscow’s interests in the Middle East. In 1958, a permanent base for Soviet submarines was established at Vlyora in Albania, but as a consequence of worsening Soviet-Albanian relations it was closed. In the future, in spite of the establishment of close relations with a range of middle eastern Arabic states, the Soviet Union never acquired a permanent naval base in this region, and the powerful Soviet naval forces in the Mediterranean (Fifth Operational Squadron) had to anchor at small plots in the neutral waters off the coast of Tunisia and Libya.

        From 1964 to 1977 an agreement with Egypt established a few servicing stations at Alexandria and Mersa Matruh (and also, from 1967 to 1972, at Port Said), which were in essence just floating moorings with minimal infrastructure and good only for short term stays. Even these stations were closed with the worsening of Soviet-Egyptian relations, and were replaced in 1984 with analogous servicing stations at Tartus which, along with Latakia, was used for calls by Soviet ships since 1971.

        After the closure in recent years of the former Soviet bases in Vietnam (Cam Ranh) and Cuba (Lourdes), the logistics, supply and servicing station at Tartus was the only remaining permanent Russian military presence outside the CIS. As a result of the near total rolling up since 1991 of Russian naval forces in the Mediterranean, the station in Tartus was rarely used for its main purpose and until recent times was in a sorry state. Russian military ships called very infrequently, for example, in 1996 when the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier made Tartus its sole distant destination.

        In terms of logistics, the station in Tartus offers a floating mooring with a small complex of onshore equipment: two prefabricated and demountable metallic storehouses, a diesel workshop, a barracks, mess-room, and an administrative building. Ships are able to refuel and receive potable water. A repair ship is maintained permanently in Tartus on the basis of six-month rotations from the Black Sea Fleet.

        Thus, after nearly 240 years of military presence on the Mediterranean, Russia has almost never held a permanent base for its fleet there for an extended period. It is not surprising that the news of the possible transformation of Tartus into a basing point for the Russian Navy has attracted significant interest. Of course, even if this project is realized it will have a primarily symbolic, rather than practical, character.

        Russia, today and for the foreseeable future, can afford to relocate to the Mediterranean only a very insignificant force, and the Black Sea Fleet, destined to form the basis of a new Mediterranean squadron, is extremely weak and has only one more or less modern large warship, the above mentioned Moskva guide missile cruiser. The remaining four large surface ships (a Kerch antisubmarine cruiser and three frigates) are hopelessly obsolete and have virtually no military value. Even with the addition of ships from the Northern Fleet (including one or two nuclear-powered submarines) and the theoretical possibility of transferring to this squadron the new Project 20380 Steregushy class corvettes currently under construction, these forces will be in a position to handle only the most limited of tasks, little more than showing the flag, and will hardly pose a serious threat to the US Sixth Fleet. In any case, as mentioned above, it is likely that the Russian Mediterranean squadron will participate in joint missions with NATO countries.

        Nevertheless the political implications of a significant escalation of Russian military presence in Tartus are obvious. It will undoubtedly solidify the position of Syria, which is feeling significant pressure from the US in general and its military weakness with respect to Israel in particular.

        Having offered Russia a base in Tartus, the regime of Asad-Junior is avoiding isolation on the international arena and is making of Russia a military factor that undercuts Israel’s options for an attack on Syria. Syria’s desire to have a Russian presence in Tartus is demonstrated by the fact that it is not charging for leasing the land to be used by the current logistics and servicing support station, nor is it charging for the use of water or electricity. Meanwhile, Russia will strengthen its role as a player in the Middle East, including in the Israel-Palestine conflict. In this way, the decision of the establishment of a Russian Mediterranean squadron can seen as a typical move by Vladimir Putin, i.e., to carefully and to a large degree symbolically restore the external attributes of Soviet greatness, while maintaining a general course of cooperation with the West.

        http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/2-2006/item1/item2/
        "We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way." -President Barack Obama 11/25/2008

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        • #5
          good for Russia, the base gonna be close to Israel (US pudel) so now US and NATO are going to experience a small bit of a feeling of being under the hazzard of attack....
          Наша жизнь как пианино: белая клавиша, черная клавиша и крышка

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Ruskiy View Post
            good for Russia, the base gonna be close to Israel (US pudel) so now US and NATO are going to experience a small bit of a feeling of being under the hazzard of attack....
            From who Russia...LMAO YOU ARENT SERIOUS I HOPE!

            If anything Russia is looking for another port for their badly decayed Navy to sit so they can silence the truth that they are poisoning their own people and home port waters.

            Trust me when I tell you the USN in no way shape or form has ANYTHING to fear from Russia except "fallout"...lmao
            Last edited by Dreadnought; 09 Jan 07,, 21:27.
            Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Ruskiy View Post
              good for Russia, the base gonna be close to Israel (US pudel) so now US and NATO are going to experience a small bit of a feeling of being under the hazzard of attack....
              Attack from what? Did you even read the article?
              Of course, even if this project is realized it will have a primarily symbolic, rather than practical, character.

              Russia, today and for the foreseeable future, can afford to relocate to the Mediterranean only a very insignificant force, and the Black Sea Fleet, destined to form the basis of a new Mediterranean squadron, is extremely weak and has only one more or less modern large warship, the above mentioned Moskva guide missile cruiser. The remaining four large surface ships (a Kerch antisubmarine cruiser and three frigates) are hopelessly obsolete and have virtually no military value. Even with the addition of ships from the Northern Fleet (including one or two nuclear-powered submarines) and the theoretical possibility of transferring to this squadron the new Project 20380 Steregushy class corvettes currently under construction, these forces will be in a position to handle only the most limited of tasks, little more than showing the flag, and will hardly pose a serious threat to the US Sixth Fleet.
              Honestly, get your head out...
              "We will go through our federal budget – page by page, line by line – eliminating those programs we don’t need, and insisting that those we do operate in a sensible cost-effective way." -President Barack Obama 11/25/2008

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Ruskiy View Post
                good for Russia, the base gonna be close to Israel (US pudel) so now US and NATO are going to experience a small bit of a feeling of being under the hazzard of attack....
                It wont really matter if Syria is exposed for what they are. Once exposed Russia will back away from anything Syria does and with very good reason. The world knows they shelter terrorists. The question is how long will it be before its their turn on the worlds stage exposes the in depth of what exactly they shelter and do you really think Russia wants to be a part of the attention?
                Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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                • #9
                  I thought Syria is a place where the CIA sends you for a vacation?? Arar sure liked his
                  Last edited by akhiluppal; 10 Jan 07,, 00:12.
                  Some True Desi Goons- Bombay Rockers
                  youtube.com/watch?v=JHkjZ1Ae9ck[/url]

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                  • #10
                    Syria wanted to be like Israel with super power on their side.

                    Israel-US and Syria-Russia.. What do you think?
                    sigpic

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by xrough View Post
                      Syria wanted to be like Israel with super power on their side.

                      Israel-US and Syria-Russia.. What do you think?
                      Sryia shelters terrorists which is a KNOWN fact. How much more negative air time does Russia really need after the poisoning of those particular few former agents that everybody is quite sure didnt happen by accident;) . Syria will get dragged into the spotlight on terrorism wether Russia has a base there or not. You can bet on it in the future. An umm I wouldnt go so far as to call Russia a superpower. Especially these days.
                      Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by xrough View Post
                        Syria wanted to be like Israel with super power on their side.
                        Russia is a superpower?

                        What planet do these people live on?
                        HD Ready?

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by HistoricalDavid View Post
                          Russia is a superpower?

                          What planet do these people live on?
                          Russia is 2nd superpower in the world, wake up. Nuke power determines your super power points.
                          Наша жизнь как пианино: белая клавиша, черная клавиша и крышка

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
                            From who Russia...LMAO YOU ARENT SERIOUS I HOPE!

                            If anything Russia is looking for another port for their badly decayed Navy to sit so they can silence the truth that they are poisoning their own people and home port waters.

                            Trust me when I tell you the USN in no way shape or form has ANYTHING to fear from Russia except "fallout"...lmao
                            It will be some fear for US pudel Israel, not for that fatty and lazy "all we know" NATO, if needed Russia have intercontinental missiles for it.
                            Наша жизнь как пианино: белая клавиша, черная клавиша и крышка

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by HistoricalDavid View Post
                              Russia is a superpower?

                              What planet do these people live on?
                              Sorry if I'm wrong but according to this site Russia ranks 2nd in military strength..
                              http://www.globalfirepower.com/
                              sigpic

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