[familyop]

If it’s not from one of Russia’s state-owned news offices, it’s not true, eh?

Venezuela Agreed To Let Russia Set Up A Bomber Outpost On This Caribbean Island: Reports
The Drive
BY JOSEPH TREVITHICK
DECEMBER 18, 2018
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25570/venezuela-agreed-to-let-russia-set-up-a-bomber-outpost-on-this-carribean-island-reports
“Russian media outlets are reporting that the Kremlin is planning to establish a forward outpost on the Venezuelan island of La Orchila in the Caribbean Sea and base nuclear-capable Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, two of which just wrapped up a recent deployment to the country, at the site. If true, this could help bolster the embattled regime of Venezuela’s dictatorial president Nicolás Maduro and would significantly change the strategic reality in the Western Hemisphere for the United States.”

[billakay]

This is a direct response to the US announcement of withdrawal from the INF treaty. In my opinion, Trump should look closely at what his State Dept is doing here and re-evaluate this action.

They have been claiming, even pre-Trump, that Russia has been "violating" it, but no one seems to know exactly how (including the Russian Foreign Ministry, who are exasperated).

[robowombat]

An island that is so small that basing a large heavy bomber would seem nearly impossible even with the substantial expansion of the runways and taxiways of the airport. The current airport has no regular staffing, is for light aircraft and its one runway is 9700 ft long. the Tu 160 is 177 ft long and has a wingspan (when fully extended I presume) of 183 ft. Also this islet is completely flat and in periods of storm is partially or completely water covered. All structures on the island, which are lightweight are elevated. This sounds like hokum although the President should state now any new basing of foreign troops in the Caribbean is a violation of the Monroe Doctrine and will not be tolerated.