Posted on 11/24/2011 11:15:23 AM PST by kronos77
T HE “Admiral Kuznetsov” class aircraft carrier is currently off the coast of Malta and heading for eastern Mediterranean from their base in the Barents Sea.
Informed sources have said that the Russian navy and Israeli military will hold joint exercises next week close to Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone.
The exercises are slated to begin on the 28th November and last a week.
Commentators say that Russia is determined to send the message that they have invested interests in the region and will secure them.
It is understood that the aircraft carrier is carrying 24-fixed wing planes and a number of helicopters. It has also been reported in the press that the Russian navy may request to use port facilities at Limassol.
The radio report also claimed that three Russian destroyers are currently anchored off the Syrian coast. Russia's naval supply and maintenance site near Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said earlier this week.
"Tartus will be developed as a naval base. The first stage of development and modernization will be completed in 2012," Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said, adding it could then serve as a base for guided-missile cruisers and even aircraft carriers.
The Soviet-era facility is operated under a 1971 agreement by Russian personnel.
Russian relations with Cyprus are at their best in many years. Last month, the Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Vyacheslav Shumskiy said that Moscow fully supports the sovereign right of Cyprus to exploit its natural resources.
“Our position is absolutely clear , and we were among the first countries to comment on that, and we totally support the sovereign right of the Cypriot people for exploitation of natural resources , this is totally in accordance with the international law and with the EU regulations, so there is no doubt about that”, he noted.
Invited to comment on Turkish threats against Cyprus, he said that Turkey’s position is not “very wise”.
Moscow is seeking to block Islamist Turkey, which is also a NATO member. The exercises with Israel are interesting which tells us what the Kremlin is doing in the eastern Mediterranean.
Russia, Israel and Greek Cyprus seem to be in agreement on Eastern Mediterranean energy exploration. Could this be the basis of an alliance against Turkey; and to a lesser extent, give the US a cold dose of reality if there are scenes of Russian and Israeli ships in joint maneuvers?
The Islamists are supported by Arab oil money. Anything which gives Europe some degree of true energy independence from Islamic oil supplies reduces Islam’s power and influence.
Things could get interesting in a hurry. Does anyone know how long it has been since the US and Russia had carriers in close proximity during a crisis situation? Or is this the first time?
U.S. Carrier George H Bush (headed to area where Russian carrier is operating, hmmmm)
Go Big Poppy!
like your tag line.
I am assuming she will be bringing her task force with her, gonna be a lot of fire power in the east med real soon.
I don’t think the Russians operated carriers during the cold war. At least I don’t recall reading about any. Might have had one or two that they kept close to home or for training.
Last time Israel attacked the US Navy, it didn't turn out too well for us.
Yeah defenseless recon ship, never did get a good explanation of why they attacked us.
Anyone remember the quote hunt for red october where sen. Thompson played the admiral and the fighter crashes on the flight deck?
“Things are going to get out of control”, that all I remember I think there was something about “people are going to die” too.
Defenseless except for a carrier task force that LBJ ordered to recall its strike aircraft, on crass political grounds.
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