Moscow weighs new air bases in Caribbean

[TruthSeeker]

Moscow weighs new air bases in Caribbean

MOSCOW: A top Russian Air Force official says the government is weighing whether to base strategic bombers on Cuban territory or on a Venezuelan island that has been offered by President Hugo Chávez, the Interfax news service reported.

In comments made at an awards ceremony Friday night, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, chief of staff for Russia's long-distance aviation division, said that either option would be practical. "There are four or five airfields in Cuba with 4,000-meter-long runways, which absolutely suit us," he said. "If the two chiefs of state display such a political will, we are ready to fly there."

General Zhikharev confirmed that Mr. Chávez had offered the use of a military airfield on La Orchila Island. "If a relevant political decision is made, this is possible," he said.

Russia has bolstered its relationship with Cuba and Venezuela. President Dmitri A. Medvedev has visited Cuba and Moscow welcomed Raúl Castro, the Cuban president, in January.

Russia's bomber fleet has been a favored piece in geopolitical gamesmanship with the United States. In August 2007, Vladimir V. Putin, then the president, punctuated the military's growing assertiveness by re-instituting long-range patrols by nuclear-capable bombers over the world's oceans. Venezuela, with an eye toward rankling the United States, invited two Russian strategic bombers to visit last year and conducted naval exercises with Russia.
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U.S. military officials played down those efforts at the time, with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying that Russia and Venezuela had the right to work together "if they see fit."

Moscow weighs new air bases in Caribbean - International Herald Tribune

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While this flies in the face of the nearly 200 year old Monroe doctrine of the US, it is probably a good thing that Russia will be wasting its money on Chavez.

 

[A1Kaid]

Interesting development.

I once remember the Russian representative to the U.N Vitaly Churkin responding to the US's decision to install a "Missile Defense shield" in Poland, he said "every military action has a reaction" "read it, it is is every military textbook" (paraphrasing).

This appears to be Russia's anticipated reaction to the US missile defense shield in Poland. When Russia received news of US setting up a MDS in Poland a Russian General Anatoly Nogovitsyn commented Poland had made it self a potential military target.

"“Poland is making itself a target. This is 100 percent” certain, Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted General Anatoly Nogovitsyn as saying.

Source:Russian general says Poland a nuclear 'target' as Condoleezza Rice arrives in Georgia - Telegraph


Now combine that with Hugo Chavez's own hatred and animosity for Washington and the US foreign policy, you have a partnership between Russia and Venezuela. In fact, several years ago I remember reading a news report that Russian sold Venezuela modern weaponry ranging from assault rifles to attack helicopters...More on that below.

"Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov confirmed that Venezuela will receive 30 Sukhoi Su30 fighter-bombers and 30 military helicopters in a deal worth around £600 million.

The growing military and energy co-operation will feature at talks in Moscow today between Mr Chavez and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Venezuela last year ordered more than 100,000 Russian AK103 rifles, which are a modification of the AK47 assault weapon."

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524942/Russia-sells-an-arsenal-to-leader-of-Venezuela.html

A delicate play at International gamesmanship, by two foes.


Indeed a chilly start to the 'New Cold War.'

 

[TopCat]

Hmmm .. interesting development, will create some amusement amonst defense analyst but nothing to worry from United States. There is no USSR exist anymore..

 

[metalfalcon]

Is this Heading for something Like "Cuban Missile Crisis".