Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations
Last year Angessa (sweetangessa) informed us that her husband was serving with the Russian military unit based in Syria. I don't know his current status. Perhaps she can provide us with some information. Here is how RIA Novosti reported on the visit:
A naval task force from Russia's Northern Fleet will visit on Monday the Syrian port of Tartus, where the Russian Navy keeps a maintenance and resupply site, a Navy spokesman said. The task force, which includes the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the Admiral Levchenko destroyer and the Nikolay Chiker salvage tug, is currently on a tour of duty in the Mediterranean. Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said the carrier group had carried out joint exercises with the Turkish Navy last week and would return to its duties in the Mediterranean Sea after visiting Tartus. The Soviet-era Navy maintenance site near Tartus is the only Russian foothold in the Mediterranean. Russian media reports have suggested the facility could be turned into a base for the country's Black Sea Fleet, which could lose its current main base in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula in 2017. About 50 naval personnel and three floating piers are reportedly deployed at the Tartus site, which can accommodate up to a dozen warships, and Russia is expanding the port and building a pier in nearby El-Latakia. No official confirmation of the reports has been made.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090112/119434778.html
Needless to say, Armenia is Russia's only secure foothold in the Caucasus; I'm even proud to say its military outpost. Regardless of what officials and diplomats say, the news is most probably true. Several weeks ago Moscow announced that it's moving additional troops and military hardware to Armenia, perhaps even a new base. This may be a direct result of a recent report that suggested Armenia's military will be suffering from personnel shortages for the next several years. So, there is an urgency. I believe that Moscow may be attempting to enhance Armenia's military deterrence as a result. Moreover, needless to say, Russia will seek to further consolidate its presence in the Caucasus politically, economically and militarily now that the US, as well as NATO, has been effectively expelled from the region as a result of Georgia's defeat last August. There may even be some plans for the near future.
Originally posted by ZORAVAR
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Russian warships to visit Syrian port
A naval task force from Russia's Northern Fleet will visit on Monday the Syrian port of Tartus, where the Russian Navy keeps a maintenance and resupply site, a Navy spokesman said. The task force, which includes the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, the Admiral Levchenko destroyer and the Nikolay Chiker salvage tug, is currently on a tour of duty in the Mediterranean. Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said the carrier group had carried out joint exercises with the Turkish Navy last week and would return to its duties in the Mediterranean Sea after visiting Tartus. The Soviet-era Navy maintenance site near Tartus is the only Russian foothold in the Mediterranean. Russian media reports have suggested the facility could be turned into a base for the country's Black Sea Fleet, which could lose its current main base in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula in 2017. About 50 naval personnel and three floating piers are reportedly deployed at the Tartus site, which can accommodate up to a dozen warships, and Russia is expanding the port and building a pier in nearby El-Latakia. No official confirmation of the reports has been made.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090112/119434778.html
Originally posted by Armanen
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