Dusty Balz, SASS#46599 Posted July 27, 2012 Posted July 27, 2012 MOSCOW – Russia is talking to Cuba about housing Russian navy ships, the nation's navy chief said Friday, in a move seen as an attempt to challenge Washington. Russia is also talking to Vietnam and the Indian Ocean island country of Seychelles as possible naval hubs. Relations with Washington have deteriorated since President Vladimir Putin was re-elected to a third term in March largely in part to the violence in Syria.Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov told the state RIA Novosti news agency that Russia is in talks about setting up maintenance and supply facilities for Russian ships in those countries but wouldn't give any further details. The announcement comes on the heels of the U.S. government's attempt to reaffirm its willingness to "forge a new relationship" with Cuba on Thursday - as long as the country promises to end its' oppressive regime. Russia's only existing naval base outside the Soviet Union is located in the Syrian port of Tartus. A squadron of Russian navy ships, including several assault ships carrying marines, is currently heading to Tartus in a show of support for a longtime ally whom Moscow protected from international sanctions and continued to supply with weapons. Chirkov's statement marked a sharp about-face for Russia, which closed a Soviet-era naval base at Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay and a spy base in Lourdes on Cuba in the early 2000s during Putin's first term. Along with financial reasons, that move was part of Putin's bid to improve ties with the United States. During his election campaign, he accused the U.S. of encouraging protest against his 12-year rule in order to weaken Russia, and pledged to strengthen the nation's military might.
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted July 27, 2012 Posted July 27, 2012 Maybe those old Cold War bombproofs were not such a bad idea. Well, maybe. Shades of Cuban Crisis.
Barry Sloe Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 Back in '92 I toured a 6 year old Russian cruiser. Vacuum tubes in their radio room, deck plates rusted out. They had weapon systems everywhere on the main deck, but no way to reload them. All the ships in port were riding high, no fuel. Lot's of things I'd worry about before Russian ships. Barry Sloe
Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172 Posted July 28, 2012 Posted July 28, 2012 In light of world conditions, I do not think I would write off Russia just yet. Cold war hold overs et al, they still have some venom in their system. Putin is not going to roll over and his ego has been bruised. Not a good thing for foreign relations. Given our current foreign policy or lack thereof, I fear our big stick has some dry rot and even though we still walk softly, but I do not see that as a big help either. The world is a big place and can be a very bad place sometimes. But then, we were ill prepared for WWII when Hitler and Tojo decided to slice the pie their way. Could history repeat itself?
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.