Russian Military Bases Abroad

MOSCOW, February 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is planning to expand its permanent military presence outside its borders by placing military bases in a number of foreign countries, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.
Shoigu said the list includes Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries.
“The talks are under way, and we are close to signing the relevant documents,” Shoigu told reporters in Moscow.
The minister added that the negotiations cover not only military bases but also visits to ports in such countries on favorable conditions as well as the opening of refueling sites for Russian strategic bombers on patrol.
Moscow currently has only one naval base outside the former Soviet Union – in Tartus, Syria, but the fate of this naval facility is uncertain because of the ongoing civil war in that country.
Post-Soviet Russia closed a large naval base in Vietnam and a radar base in Cuba in 2002 due to financial constraints.
However, Russia has started reviving its navy and strategic aviation since mid-2000s, seeing them as a tool to project the Russian image abroad and to protect its national interests around the globe.
Now, Moscow needs to place such military assets in strategically important regions of the world to make them work effectively toward the goal of expanding Russia’s global influence.

GarryB wrote:Makes sense.

Previously the russian navy and air force would no have the resources to regularly visit a foreign country let alone need a base there, but as their military improves they need to expand their operations... which means they need places to stay the night so to speak to reduce travel costs.

It is also a good way to improve relations with ex allies.

magnumcromagnon wrote:

The Russian foreign bases that make the most sense would be Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and possibly Algeria (which wasn't mentioned, I just threw it out there).

Cuba because the U.S. has struggled for decades to topple Castro with over 600 failed assassination attempts, and the location is dream real estate. Venezuela because they have one of the largest proven crude oil reserves and they have a govt. hostile towards the Pentagon, which is why they want to topple the Venezuelan govt. Nicaragua because the Chinese are building a canal that will rival the Panama canal, there's good reason why their building it...because the Pentagon toppled the Panamanian govt., dissolved their national military in the late 1980's and installed a puppet govt. with a mercenary military (that's not loyal to the people of Panama) so they could control the Panama Canal... The Pentagon will probably attempt to topple the Nicaraguan govt. to take control of that. Algeria because if Syria ever falls, Russia will need a base in the Middle East to replace that.

GarryB wrote:It is important for Russia to have bases in the southern hemisphere for the purposes of satellite tracking and also for access to Antarctica... bases in South Africa and Argentina would both be useful.

Selling Argentina a few Su-35s might be very interesting too...     

magnumcromagnon wrote:

GarryB wrote:It is important for Russia to have bases in the southern hemisphere for the purposes of satellite tracking and also for access to Antarctica... bases in South Africa and Argentina would both be useful.

Selling Argentina a few Su-35s might be very interesting too...     

South Africa makes sense because they have large quantities of natural resources as well as a Russian friendly govt. (BRICS) I also forgot to mention that a Naval base in Algeria would be great because cruisers armed with naval S-500's could seriously counter Britain and France's nuclear stock pile, and I think Russia should set up a military deal with China to share responsibilities of protecting mutual allies and assets, Russia and China both could have naval/airforce bases in Cuba and Venezuela, China could have a base in Nicaragua to protect their canal, Russia could have one in Algeria to counter European NATO, China could have a base in South Africa to protect it's African interests, and Russia could have another in Argentina to access Antarctica.

sepheronx wrote:

magnumcromagnon wrote:

GarryB wrote:It is important for Russia to have bases in the southern hemisphere for the purposes of satellite tracking and also for access to Antarctica... bases in South Africa and Argentina would both be useful.

Selling Argentina a few Su-35s might be very interesting too...     

South Africa makes sense because they have large quantities of natural resources as well as a Russian friendly govt. (BRICS) I also forgot to mention that a Naval base in Algeria would be great because cruisers armed with naval S-500's could seriously counter Britain and France's nuclear stock pile, and I think Russia should set up a military deal with China to share responsibilities of protecting mutual allies and assets, Russia and China both could have naval/airforce bases in Cuba and Venezuela, China could have a base in Nicaragua to protect their canal, Russia could have one in Algeria to counter European NATO, China could have a base in South Africa to protect it's African interests, and Russia could have another in Argentina to access Antarctica.

I agree.  If Russia shares the base, they can share the cost, which would make it cheap for both China and Russia.  As both of China's and Russia's politics are co-aligned in most cases, then it shouldn't be hard.  An airforce base in Nicaragua, a naval base in Cuba with a repair/supply port in Venezuela and a Naval base in Algeria would allow both countries to have great access to the rest of the world more or less.

TR1 wrote:What in god's name is the point of us having bases in Argentina?

KomissarBojanchev wrote:closer to the US's backyard.

Argentina will probably expect Russia to back it up in the Falkland islands dispute. Too bad because the Falkland islands really are British, whatever way you spin it. But politics is politics. Seeing as how Britain has inevitably aligned against Russia in this episode and the upcoming energy and defense ties are now probably a thing of the past - Russia has little to lose I suppose.