RAND: The Russians lacked a large military base in the Mediterranean, now it is

20

Russia seeks greater freedom of action in the Mediterranean region and strengthens its military presence to achieve this goal, the team of authors writes on the website of the RAND analytical institute. To solve the “Russian” problem, the United States and NATO could develop a reliable strategy aimed at strengthening the presence of the Alliance’s aviation and fleet in the region.

Since Egypt ordered Soviet troops to leave the country in 1972, Moscow lacked a large military base in the Mediterranean Sea. But the situation is changing. Strengthening its position in the region, Russia believes that in this way it will be able to achieve great success in matters of projecting power while reducing the influence of the United States and NATO.



In 2015, Russian aviation saved Syria from a growing rebellion that threatened to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Now Damascus is providing a counter service

- noted in the text of the article.

In 2017, Russia announced the creation of a “permanent group” in the port of Tartus and the nearby Hmeimim air base. Previously, the Russians used only a modest naval logistics complex, but Moscow will spend $ 49 million on expanding its military infrastructure under a new 500-year lease.

This will provide Russian warships with material support for much longer-range operations in the Mediterranean. The Russian Federation also deployed dozens of combat aircraft in Khmeimim and installed its S-400 air defense systems there.

Ambition is not limited to Syrian shores. Allegedly, in the eastern part of Libya, Moscow also hopes to get benefits, linking its hopes with local commander Khalifa Haftar or other influential figures. The African Command of the US Armed Forces (AFRICOM) has already warned that if Russia provides a "permanent presence" and deploy long-range missiles, this will be a "turning point for Europe."

As a countermeasure to the Kremlin, the authors propose an expansion of US and NATO activities that could reassure the unnamed allies of the West in this part of the world. The paper says that the United States naval presence in the Mediterranean, for example, is possible according to the scheme when warships would spend more time in this area at the moment when they were sent to or returned from the Middle East.

At the same time, America refuses to participate in large-scale protracted conflicts in the territories of Libya and Syria.

The intervention would only fetter the US military, who must confront the rising China, [...] and the power of the United States would be at the end of almost endless conflicts devoid of a strategic goal

- approved in the article.
    Our news channels

    Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

    20 comments
    Information
    Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
    1. -1
      2 July 2020 11: 58
      Russia seeks greater freedom of action in the Mediterranean region and strengthens its military presence to achieve this goal, the team of authors writes on the website of the RAND analytical institute.

      In 2017, Russia announced the creation of a “permanent group” in the port of Tartus and the nearby Hmeimim air base. Previously, the Russians used only a modest naval logistics complex, but Moscow will spend $ 49 million on expanding its military infrastructure under a new 500-year lease.

      - Unfortunately, timid and timid Russia was late ... - And now you have to make up for lost time; and it will already be twice (or even three times) more expensive ... - Personally, I’m just tired of writing about the fact that Russia just needs a real Russian fortified area in Syria ...- with all communications, military equipment, air defense system, tracking service broadcasting, electronic warfare system, etc ... etc ... etc ...
      - Russia came to Syria for a big political and economic game in the Middle. In the East (and in the Mediterranean - in fact - too) ... - And Russia came there with several squadrons and a small contingent (she was officially invited to "settle down properly," and she so modestly "went to sit for a minute") and Russia settled on the modest base of Khmeimim ("blown" by all the winds), Russia hoped for its pseudo girlfriend Turkey; who "made her poor friend" and "threw" her in all areas and spheres ... - wherever possible ...
      - Well, today:
      Or Russia should as soon as possible create a powerful military region in Syria (although it is already quite late);
      - Or ...- just get ready to leave Syria ... - And even leave the base in Khmeimim, because the base in Khmeimim will be constantly subject to attacks ... and simply will not play any role ...
      1. +1
        2 July 2020 12: 35
        Hello Irina :) Don't put all your eggs in one basket, it's about Khmeimim. Times are changing, and B. Assad may not last forever ... The main thing is that the opponents of the Russian Federation, the United States is in peripeteia and the pressure of the world gendarme will weaken, then the Russian Federation should not hesitate, and of course, in caution and within the framework of "decency" But the internal problems of the government of the Russian Federation are also boiling - there are a lot of problems today, everywhere they are torn. Therefore, imperial ambitions will soon replace ambitions for survival, chaos in the world, too, come on, man-made ... That's the problem, who, in the global total, made these porridge, and what they intend to cook ...
        1. +1
          2 July 2020 13: 37
          Hello Irina :) Do not put all the eggs in one basket, it's about Khmeimim.

          The main thing, opponents of the Russian Federation, is that the United States is in peripetia and the pressure of the world gendarme will weaken, here the Russian Federation should not hesitate, and, of course, in caution, and within the framework of "decency".

          - Hi ...
          - What is the USA and the world gendarme ... - This is an old bugbear ...
          - Russia, even out of the blue, manages to acquire new problems for itself ...
          - Well, who asked Russia to go into the service of China ??? - And this Chinese collar (or rather a yoke) to put on the neck for today's generation of Russians, and for all subsequent ... generations ... - And establish "fraternal relations" with Turkey ... - And then what ???

          That's just the internal problems of the Russian government are also boiling - a lot of problems for today, everywhere torn.

          - Yes, these internal problems will recede into the background, when Russia will openly fight for the independence of Russia with Chinese expansion ... - Maybe Russia will win, or rather - and defend its independence ... - although ... this is very It will be very difficult ... - And then the "internal creators" and they are the "problem creators" for Russia ... - will again "invent" and create new external problems for Russia ... - And again everyone will rush to "save Russia" and forget about internal problems ... - And so ... in a circle ...
          - Until the Social Democrats or the Bolsheviks (or someone like them) come to power again ... - And a new round of history does not begin ... - But it will be very, very soon ...
          1. -3
            2 July 2020 18: 21
            Twenty five again. Your words - water to the mill of enemies of the Russian Federation, now China has pulled. Without a strong China, the Russian Federation would have eaten and spat out for a long time, but they would have ceased pressure and are transferred to the east against China, for us it’s like removing the taxation of our fortress .... They will even begin to offer us smiles and make friends against the PRC .. And at the same time you foes sing, how so? China will butt for a long time with the United States and then with all its neighbors, so that Russia will not see a threat from the PRC in the 21st century ... As for the Russian Federation and the future, the grandmother said in two, if the liberal-Semitic rule is not quietly replaced, strong disturbances are possible with troubled times. (It’s similar to the USA - there they pushed the global democrats there, so they got some kind of mess) ...
    2. +2
      2 July 2020 13: 23
      Russia should have military bases not only in the Mediterranean region, but also in other strategically important regions. Including along the perimeter of the borders of Russia, since there is no USSR. We did not say:

      You do not know how to fight in a strange land, you have nothing to do on your own!
    3. -9
      2 July 2020 13: 47
      - Ladies & gentlemen, you will laugh again, but the only real way out for Russia not to be absorbed and enslaved by China is the need to conclude a military-strategic alliance Washington-Moscow-Tokyo, with the makeweight of New Delhi. wink Otherwise tryndets is inevitable. And it will happen in 80 years, or 150 years, - for history this is not so important ...
      1. -2
        2 July 2020 17: 20
        - Ladies & gentlemen, you will laugh again, but the only real way out for Russia not to be absorbed and enslaved by China is the need to conclude a military-strategic alliance Washington-Moscow-Tokyo, with the makeweight of New Delhi. wink Otherwise, the fuck is inevitable

        - Maybe yes...
        - Although these wars of "Negro-Americans" (the most appropriate name); these "Negro-American" riots ... somehow more and more reduce the inviolability of the states "to naught" ... -And it's rather strange that Negro-Americans are quite organized ...
        But with China ...- it’s real ...- Russia can’t cope alone ... - And China is much worse than America for Russia ... - Everything is clear with Russia ... for eight years Russia’s policy towards China (or rather, its servility to China) will not change ... - I mean, under the previous leadership; but it will still be at the helm for at least 8-10 years ... - But what can the United States offer the new president ??? - If again only sanctions and fierce confrontation (and this is likely to happen); then the Americans will not change anything ... - Everything will remain, as it was ...
      2. -4
        3 July 2020 15: 42
        Very similar to that ....
      3. +3
        4 July 2020 07: 25
        Isn't it funny yourself to read your advice? Conclude an agreement with the United States? How many such agreements have already been concluded and how many times has the United States withdrawn from them when they became unprofitable for the United States? As someone said a smart phrase - "agreements with the Anglo-Saxons are not worth the paper on which they are written." The Anglo-Saxons only understand the position of power. When they are stronger, they dictate their policies. When weaker, they sit quietly, like a mouse under a rag, and secretly harm in all ways available to them.
    4. -1
      2 July 2020 14: 28
      All the new-empire ambitions of the current Russian leadership are meaningless. What is the use of creating military bases in the Mediterranean Sea, or in other regions, if the country's economy is in a deplorable state, the majority of citizens are impoverished, and financial bigwigs are withdrawing funds abroad? Empires with such an economy do not survive.
      1. +2
        2 July 2020 17: 51
        the majority of citizens are impoverished, and financial bigwigs withdraw funds abroad? Empires with such an economy do not survive.

        - Alas, but it is ...
        - Well, what can you do ... - In Russia there is an "amorphization" and degradation of the population ... - and it is the Russian ... - But it is on the Russian population that the whole Empire rests ... - And this is not nationalism, but just the bitter truth ... - It was the Russian population that began to degrade catastrophically ... - and Russian cities began to fill more and more with immigrants from Asia, the East and the Caucasus ... - How many of them are already walking "with beards" in Russian cities ... - And Russian youth are weak, pampered, physically undeveloped and not close-knit (does not give birth .. offspring. All these are myths - about the allegedly increasing birth rate among Russians ... - mainly people from Asia, the East, the Caucasus give birth to offspring) ... - Perhaps this is the last Russian generation, which at least somehow with a very big stretch is the ethnic majority ... - Well, and then ... - of course ... the collapse ... and the absorption of Russia other states (and China will grab whatever it wants) ...
        - Here, personally, I have always been against "financial tycoons, withdrawing funds abroad" ... - Yes, these are grabber, thieves, criminals and not patriots of their fatherland ... - And if the people who are the support of this Fatherland ... before our eyes (and no parades can save its numbers); then ... then ... then who will then get all the funds when the same riots also begin in Russia, like the Negro-American riots that are now taking place in the United States ...
        - And this is not behind such "high mountains" ... and in 20-25 years this can happen in Russia ...
        - So the Chinese will have to suppress these national riots in Russia ... when China annexes part of the Russian territory ... - and the Chinese will not stand on ceremony with these national riots ... - they are not soft-bodied liberal Russians ... - Hahah. ..
        - All this sounds gloomy, but ... quite real ...
        1. -4
          2 July 2020 18: 13
          Well, now they’ll peck you, instruct the minuses for such moods. I understand that I can do little in this situation, but I’ll draw at least one plus sign for you ...
          1. -3
            2 July 2020 18: 24
            Well, now they’ll bite you, they will instruct you in the minuses for such moods

            Well ... - knicksen to you ... - Hahah ...
    5. +1
      3 July 2020 09: 02
      Quote: Bindyuzhnik
      All the new-empire ambitions of the current Russian leadership are meaningless. What is the use of creating military bases in the Mediterranean Sea, or in other regions, if the country's economy is in a deplorable state, the majority of citizens are impoverished, and financial bigwigs are withdrawing funds abroad? Empires with such an economy do not survive.

      Finally a sensible comment from you. I would like you to be equally pragmatic in your assessment of other countries.
      1. -1
        3 July 2020 09: 55
        All the new-empire ambitions of the current Russian leadership are meaningless. What is the use of creating military bases in the Mediterranean Sea, or in other regions, if the country's economy is in a deplorable state, the majority of citizens are impoverished, and financial bigwigs are withdrawing funds abroad? Empires with such an economy do not survive.

        Finally a sensible comment from you. I would like you to be equally pragmatic in your assessment of other countries.

        Oh well) And why is there something particularly healthy?
        The entire upper part of this, to put it mildly, unlucky commentary is equally applicable to, for example, the United States. And the country's economy is in a deplorable situation, and the population (even how!) Is rapidly impoverished.

        As regards the “financial bigwigs” and the notorious “withdrawal of funds,” this topic is to the author of the lines in general: “not according to Juan sombrero” (in Russian: not according to Senka’s hat). If we are talking about “creating our own reserves“ under the mattress ”for a rainy day”, or “hiding the money obtained by criminal means (theft of budgetary funds, corruption, etc.)”, then these are only two, and in strategic terms, not particularly significant reasons for the withdrawal of funds abroad.
        Other motives for withdrawing funds abroad are more or less justified. Just when you don’t know about it, all sorts of “bindyuzhnye” thoughts come to mind)
    6. -2
      3 July 2020 11: 32
      Quote: Dear couch expert.
      The entire upper part of this, to put it mildly, unlucky commentary is equally applicable to, for example, the United States. And the country's economy is in a deplorable situation, and the population (even how!) Is rapidly impoverished.

      Everything is relative in this world:

      While the fat dries, the thin dies ...
      1. +1
        3 July 2020 23: 08
        Everything is relative in this world:

        While the fat dries, the thin dies ...

        - who do you relate to more?)
        1. -1
          3 July 2020 23: 29
          Certainly not to those who want the US economy to decline. Because, as if the United States has a "runny nose", Russia starts "pneumonia" - remember the crisis of 2008 ?!
          1. +3
            4 July 2020 00: 22
            remember the crisis of 2008?

            Yes, there’s nothing to remember. If only because of a 20% drop in property prices, American homeowners are nearly $ XNUMX trillion poorer.
            The mortgage crisis in the United States provoked a liquidity crisis in world banks in September 2008: banks stopped issuing loans, in particular, loans for the purchase of cars. As a result, sales of auto giants began to decline. Three auto giants Opel, Daimler and Ford reported a reduction in German production in October. From real estate, the crisis spread to the real economy, a recession, a decline in production began.
            But what does this crisis have to do with Russia?
    7. +1
      4 July 2020 00: 48
      Even interesting. And how did I manage to visit this very base in Tartus in the nineties? Probably penetrated the temporary portal.