Posted on 02/26/2014 5:31:28 PM PST by mandaladon
MOSCOW, February 26 (RIA Novosti) – 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. Now, Moscow needs to place such military assets in strategically important regions of the world to make them work effectively toward the goal of expanding Russia’s global influence.
(Excerpt) Read more at en.ria.ru ...
And obama will welcome the ruskies to cuba with open arms.
Thanks mandaladon.
We may have 300 nukes. Our ships and planes are down and out. If the ruskies take over, goodbye civil rights. They have no use for minorities, social justice, wealth distribution or moslems.
Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua - Putin has taken Obama’s measure and is moving into what was the US backyard. Maybe there is a message that the US should stay out of his, as in the Ukraine.
I rather live in a Russian dominated world than an Islamic dominated world.
Speaking of the Russian Bear, he's back. Recovered from a stupor caused by the collapse of Soviet Union.
The Russians have as much business in Venezuela as we do in Ukraine. Time to scrap unsustainable global intervention and return to a policy of maintaining the Monroe Doctrine and building economic strength for the long term.
Cuba? Forget that, Obam would turn over Alaska if he could.
No red blooded american wants to be a second class citizen in his own land. But if Russia takes on the regime and wins, we will be learning how to live with radioactive rain, snow and dust for years to come.
Visions of Red Dawn.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.