Posted on 12/26/2018 11:08:03 PM PST by familyop
RUSSIA has sent supersonic bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles to one of Venezuela’s islands in the Caribbean Sea, according to reports.
This follows news earlier in the month that the former-Soviet state was planning to set up its first military base in the Caribbean after striking a deal with cash-strapped Venezuela.
Venezuela’s socialist president Nicolas Maduro did not object to the proposals, according to Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
The deployment will represent the one of the largest postings of the Russian military in the region since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Under Venezuelan law, military bases cannot be established by foreign nations in the country, but a temporary deployment of warplanes is possible.
Maduro and his left-wing administration has an acrimonious relationship with Washington.
Russian military expert Colonel Shamil Gareyev said establishing a long-term presence in Venezuela was an economically sensible decision if more joint exercises are to take place.
"Our strategic bombers will not only not have to return to Russia every time, but also won't perform aerial refueling while on a patrol mission in the Americas,” he added.
Russian military Colonel Eduard Rodyukov said the move was in response to US president Donald Trump’s threat to scrap nuclear treaties.
The US recently gave Russia 60 days to comply with a treaty banning the development of intermediate range nuclear missiles or the agreement would be scrapped altogether.
US officials accused Russia of developing missiles in violation of the treaty, a charge Russia has strongly denied.
The supersonic bombers – nicknamed White Swans – are capable of carrying short-range nuclear missiles.
The planes can fly over 7,500 miles without refuelling.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the move on Twitter: “Russia’s government has sent bombers halfway around the world to Venezuela.
“The Russian and Venezuelan people should see this for what it is: two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer.”
La Orchila Airport runway is 10,499 feet long, but the Russians will probably build their naval base separately. I wonder if some Floridians from New York will get some of the building contracts to help the Russians nuke Florida in the near future.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/11.8071/-66.1413
Looks like shallow bedrock with sand over it. The Russian military will be happy with this.
Isla La Orchila - Venezuela - La Orchila island, Venezuela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTW—h0H_84
You as many other Americans vastly overate the Russians. The main reason they are not at war with anybody is because they can’t afford it.
Single runway -- 10,000 feet "from pad to feet-wet" (claimed 10499 feet...)
Virtually zero apparent facilities (ILS, Tower, POL, etc.)
Marked parking to handle about five (5) TU-160s--with the wings fully-swept back.
Largest observed A/C on pad: De Havilland Twin Otter or Shorts 360-size.
TXnMA
On the matter of La Orchila, in the world of conspiracy theorists who favor the CSTO, its outposts and its allies in the new axis, Russia builds the most advanced military equipment in the world but cannot build an airstrip and naval air station facilities. The planned development is easily doable.
For readers here who’ve done some construction design and building,...
Isla La Orchila - Venezuela | La Orchila island, Venezuela | Ilha La Orchila - Venezuela
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTW—h0H_84
I just got back from living in Russia for almost a year and a half (and I’m in the process of buying some real estate for when I return). From everything I’ve seen, their military is top notch (pretty much all new equipment across the board) and new infrastructure is going up everywhere (and this was in Krasnodar, far from Moscow). Russia is nowhere close to the bad place so many Freepers think it is.
Thank you, and I agree. Please let me add one further thought. We have armed forces to fight against “enemies foreign and domestic”. Well, dear Freepers, we will never defeat the enemies foreign unless we first defeat the enemies domestic.
As Sun Tzu knew. As the Romans knew. As most of the US seems to have forgotten.
The Monroe Doctrine relates to foreign efforts to take over or interfere with independent countries in our hemisphere. If the Venezuelans invite the Russians in, it doesn't apply. Remember that while the Monroe Doctrine was announced, Britain, France, Spain, Holland, and Denmark all had colonies in the New World.
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