Russia seeks naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam [View all]
I am surprised that this is not bigger news.
Russia seeks naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam
Russia is in talks to set up naval bases in former Cold War allies Cuba and Vietnam as President Vladimir Putin undertakes the country's biggest military overhaul since the Soviet era.
"We are working on establishing navy bases outside Russia," Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov said in an interview with the state-run RIA Novosti news service and confirmed by the navy. "We aim to set up resupply bases in Cuba, the Seychelles and Vietnam."
Russian plans for overseas military expansion threatens to further strain relations with the United States at a time when the former superpower rivals are at loggerheads over American missile-shield plans and fighting in Syria. Putin's government plans to spend $712 billion this decade on defense spending.
Russia risks losing its only military base outside the former Soviet Union, a naval resupply facility in the Syrian port of Tartus, as President Bashar Assad fights for survival in the face of a 17-month uprising.
more at: http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/Russia-seeks-naval-bases-in-Cuba-Vietnam-3742218.php#photo-3248734
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