Saturday, June 29, 2013

Russia's Navy Shows The Flag In the Mediterranean

Russian warships arrived at the Syrian port city of Tartus

Russia Flexes Its Muscles In The Mediterranean -- Deutsche Welle

Russia is in the midst of negotiations for a military presence on Cyprus. In addition to being part of a plan to build up its naval forces, analysts say Moscow needs to find an alternative to its base in Syria.

Reports that Russia is withdrawing all military personnel from its naval base in Syria and replacing them with civilian workers are wrong, the Russian Defense Ministry made announced on Thursday (27.06.2013) in Moscow. There is no need for the military to be based in Tartus, a city on Syria's Mediterranean coast, the press release said, "because maintenance of Russian warships was taken over by civilians long ago."

According to the ministry's statement, Tartus would remain Russia's naval base within the Mediterranean. But at the same time Moscow is clearly preparing for a loss. It has long been speculated that Russia, in the event of a regime change in Damascus, would give up the Tartus base. And now it seems they have found an alternative.

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My Comment: They want to show the flag .... and to watch over the events that are unfolding in Syria.

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