america in poland and russia in syria, page-3

Syria to Host Russian Navy
from the August 14, 2007 eNews issue

For some time reports have circulated that Russia is planning to move its Black Sea Fleet to Syria. Russia officials initially denied the rumors. However earlier this month Admiral Vladimir Masorin, Commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, confirmed that Russia plans to establish a permanent naval base on the Mediterranean. According to Masorin, restoring a "permanent presence" in the Mediterranean is of great "strategic importance."

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, Russia will establish naval bases in the Syrian port cities of Tartus and Latakia. Reports indicate that Moscow is planning to form a squadron led by the Moskva, the Black Sea Fleet's flagship missile cruiser. The squadron would operate in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis. Russia has already began dredging at the Syrian port of Tartus where it maintains a logistical supply point. It has also launched a modernization project at the port of Latakia, located about 60 miles to the north of Tartus.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet currently uses a range of naval facilities in the Ukrainian region of Crimea. They operate in the region under a 1997 agreement that allowed Russia to continue its presence in the former Soviet republic for rent of $93 million per year. The fleet is not scheduled to withdraw until 2017. However the Ukraine has voiced concerns that Russia is not paying enough for the facilities and has demanded that a new agreement be signed. Russia says that it will not make any concessions and negotiations between Russia and the Ukraine have stalled.

Russian weapons sales have increased significantly in recent years. Russia's arms exports totaled a record breaking 8 billion dollars last year, and those numbers are expected to continue to climb even higher in 2007. Russian defense spending has been rising steadily as well, with the help of high energy prices and oil revenues. Russia has implemented an ambitious plan to update and expand its military. Russia is planning to buy new intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and possibly aircraft carriers. The Russian military will deploy 17 new inter-continental ballistic missiles this year. The missile purchases are part of a 189 billion dollar weapons modernization program.

Russia's plans have not gone unnoticed by the US and Israel. Israel in particular seems wary of this new development. Some Israeli officials have even expressed concern that Russian naval vessels will be used to spy on Israel. To learn more, click on the links below.
http://www.khouse.org/enews_article/2007/1235/


BEWARE THE BEAR

The situation in Eastern Europe isn't going to improve any time soon. It has been almost two weeks since Russia invaded the former Soviet nation of Georgia and already more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes. The two nations have agreed to a truce, but Russian tanks and troops have not withdrawn. Some reports indicate that Russia is moving its troops even further into Georgian territory. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently told reporters that if "Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture and actions in Georgia, the U.S.-Russian relationship could be adversely affected for years to come."

Adding fuel to the fire, the United States and Poland have reached an agreement on the proposed missile defense shield. The agreement between the US and Poland includes a promise to come to each other's aid in the event of an attack. This news could further antagonize Russia, which is strongly opposed to the deal. The US says it wants to place interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar site the Czech Republic to protect against attacks from rogue nations such as Iran. However Moscow believes the missile shield's true purpose is to undermine Russia's nuclear deterrent.

The agreement between the US and Poland comes just days after Russia announced plans to significantly update its naval forces. It plans to build five or six new aircraft carrier battle groups as well as at least four new submarines. Currently Russia has only one aircraft carrier; however its new found oil wealth has enabled the former communist state to undertake a vast modernization of its military. The new submarines will be armed with new Bulava SS-NX-30 missiles, a new intercontinental-range ballistic missile. It is the submarine based version of the Russian SS-27, which can carry up to six nuclear warheads. These two missiles will be the foundation of the new Russian military, and will give it the ability to strike targets anywhere in the world.

The Russian government controls most of the nation's energy resources and seems willing to use its energy clout as a political weapon. Russia is a key player in world energy markets. It holds the world's largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. Russia is also the world's largest exporter of natural gas, and has surpassed Saudi Arabia as the world's leading oil producer. Russia has reaped huge economic benefits from rising energy prices, and has increasingly used its position to intimidate its neighbors.

Meanwhile, Russia has been increasing its ties in the Middle East. Russia has signed arms deals with both Saudi Arabia and Libya, each worth more than 2 billion dollars. Russia also recently signed a pact with Egypt to build at least four nuclear power plants. Russia has also continued to supply Iran and Syria with sophisticated weaponry, including advanced anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft missiles. It has done so despite concerns that such weaponry could find its way into the hands of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

http://www.khouse.org/