Russia plans buildup in the Mediterranean: 'Russia has strategic interests'
MOSCOW — Russia has completed a two-week naval exercise in the
Mediterranean and plans to re-establish its footprint in the region.
Russian navy commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said his force would
establish a presence in areas deemed by Moscow as strategic. Vysotsky said
this would include the Mediterranean and the neighboring Atlantic Ocean.
"What is important is that we have arrived [in the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean] at a scheduled time and not just that we appeared there,"
Vysotsky said on Feb. 3. "We'll do all we can to build up our presence where
Russia has strategic interests."
The Russian Navy has concluded a two month tour of the Mediterranean and
Atlantic. The operation was deemed the first large-scale Russian navy
exercise in the region in 15 years.
Moscow has been conducting naval exercises with such Mediterranean
states as Algeria and Syria. Russia has been financing the upgrade of
Syria's port of Tartous to accommodate large naval ships.
On Jan. 18, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva guided
missile cruiser, joined Russian naval warships in the Mediterranean to
participate in a two-week exercise. The Russian naval task force consisted
of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Admiral Levchenko and Admiral
Chabanenko Udaloy-Class destroyers as well as support vessels.
More than 40 aircraft participated in the exercise, which ended on Feb.
2. They included Russian Air Force's Tu-160 Blackjacks, Tu-95MS Bears,
Tu-22M3 Backfire-C strategic bombers, A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning
aircraft, Il-78 Midas aerial tankers, MiG-31 Foxhound long-range
interceptors and Su-27 Flanker frontline fighter aircraft.
"The North Fleet will conduct long-distance voyages about once every six
months." Vysotsky said. "These voyages may differ from the recent one. We
have enough opportunities and forms to display Russian naval might."
