That depends on which chess game we’re talking about. If the report is accurate, it does serve a purpose. What does Russia gain from “helping” Assad? Iran is the other would-be “friend” of Assad, and has just been empowered by the deal with the US to possibly offer even greater and more decisive assistance to Assad. Possibly Putin sees his window of opportunity closing to gain proxy control of Syria, with all that implies for the rather complex chess game of advancing Russia’s energy markets. In which case a bit of brazen nuclear saber-rattling might be effective for the target demographic.
Peace,
SR
I can see where there would be a minor benefit in checking out the current Russian Naval Base in Syrias’ capabilities to reprovision the ship. Beyond that I don’t see much. As other have noted making the subs’ location a mystery is a plus. Otherwise it is a temptation for ISIS.
In a world where up is up and down is down, a president would deploy some Aegis cruisers with interceptor missiles. The russian missiles would be shot down in boost phase before the MIRVs deploy. With this president perhaps he will decommission the Aegis system.