Posted on 09/01/2007 7:34:04 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Analysis: Russia uses Syrian port to demonstrate its power in the Med
By ALEX KOGAN
Russia is expanding its military presence in Syria, developing an advanced naval port at Tartus and providing Syria with sophisticated missile technology.
The story of Russia's return to Tartus, Syria's second most important port after Latakia, broke a year ago. It is Moscow's only foreign naval outpost situated outside the former Soviet Union.
In June 2006 Russian media reported that Moscow had begun dredging at Tartus with a possible eye to turning what was largely a logistical base into a full-fledged station for its Black Sea Fleet, soon to be redeployed from the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. But Tartus is much more than just a new home for the fleet; it allows projection of Russian power into the entire eastern Mediterranean, and, by extension, a flexing of military might before Israel and the West.
Russian sources said the country's military planned to form a squadron to operate in the Mediterranean within three years, built around the Moskva missile cruiser.
In addition, several respected Russian newspapers have reported that Moscow planned to deploy an S-300PMU-2 Favorit air-defense system to protect the base, with the system being operated by Russian servicemen rather than by Syrian forces.
According to these reports, the system would provide air defense protection for a large part of Syria.
Moscow and Damascus have also reached an agreement to modernize Syria's anti-aircraft network by upgrading medium-range S-125 missile complexes that were sold to Syria in the 1980s.
Another instance of secret activity at the port came on March 9, 2005, when yet another Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel, the Azov, supposedly carrying machinery for rebuilding the moorage at the Tartus technical base and replacements for obsolete items in the base's storage, left for Syria.
When it arrived at the port, several suspicious meetings between local authorities and Russian Navy officers took place, Russian media reported.
Less than two months later, Syria test fired new Scud missiles. The Syrians launched one Scud B missile with a range of 300 kilometers, and two Scud D missiles with a range of 700 kilometers. It is tempting to suggest that technologies for these projectiles were among the "equipment" brought on board the Azov.
The Russians have not stopped at moving missiles in their attempt to make an impression in the region. On one occasion they sent fighter planes into Israeli airspace.
In January 1996, the Russian Navy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov came very close to Israeli territorial waters. On January 27, it launched several advanced Su-33 fighters, the naval version of the Su-27. The jets ventured into Israeli air space near Haifa. IAF planes were scrambled to intercept, but a skirmish was avoided.
The incident was kept secret for six years and was only revealed in 2002 in an article in the Israel Air Force magazine.
According to the report, Russian planes entered Israel's airspace at least twice and several F-16 scrambled for an intercept mission after an intrusion alert was received.
What are they trying to do? It would take them a very, very long time to build up to the strength of our current Navy.
The Russians have been operating in the Med for 200 years. Obvioulsy, this new step is to restrain Israel.
As Russia re-establishes stability in the region, the danger of war declines.
The danger of war declines for that region. It doesn’t for us.
Was that sarcasm???The last time Russian ships were hanging around there,67 & 73’ happened.
Syria and Iran, and pre-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan were out of control because of the collapse of the USSR. The first Gulf War was possible because of the collapse of the USSR but not allowed to go to complete occupation of Baghdad because Russia was not yet ready for that. Iran and Syria, and N Kor will be a little more cooperative rather than combative as Russia regains some of its power. New ballgame, but all that is in Russia’s sphere of influence.
Well,we need to define what being in control is,then.The Soviets played both sides w.r.t Iran & Iraq.The Israelis will always have trouble from these nations.When the Soviets were there,they could think of military options.Now it’s a proxy-war,not too different.
Wasn’t the Soviet Union still in existence(though crumbling) when the Kuwait war took place??
Sure. That’s the nature of stability in the real world.
Russia’s influence over these nations will be in shades of grey...Not as black & white as under the USSR.
The entire globe is shades of gray. Nuances. We tend to like to slam into back or white, but reality is shades of gray.
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