TruthNews

Russian Navy To Return To Syrian Ports

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 28 Aug 2008

According to a Russian diplomat on Wednesday, Syrian ports will host an increased Russian naval presence to enhance its military projection in the eastern Mediterranean, a move that comes amid mounting tensions between Moscow and the West over the Red Army’s recent invasion of Georgia.

Russia’s charge d’affaires Igor Belyaev told reporters in Damascus that "our navy presence in the Mediterranean will increase.... Russian vessels will be visiting Syria and other friendly ports more frequently. The visits are continuing."

The announcement came after a visit to Russia last week in which Syrian President Bashar Assad requested advanced weapons systems and openly supported the Kremlin's decision to send troops into Georgia in support of the breakaway province of South Ossetia.

Russia’s navy mainly uses Syria’s port of Tartous. A Russian naval fleet, including the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, docked at Tartous this month. During the Cold War era, the Soviet Union maintained a strong naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean with many ships based at Syrian ports.

Belyaev would not give further detail if a new Syrian-Russian military deal was reached when Assad met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last Thursday at a Black Sea resort. "The two leaders gave their directions to advance ties in the economy, trade and energy fields, as well as military cooperation," he said.

Russia is ready to sell more weapons to Syria, but mainly defensive systems that would not upset the "regional balance of power," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week. Lavrov was alluding to Israel’s qualitiative military advantage over any array of regional foes.

Syrian diplomats acknowledged that Moscow would not quickly sell arms to Syria that could greatly threaten Israel’s military edge. "It remains to be seen how much the Russians would come through for Syria," said one diplomat. "Damascus also does not want to jeopardize its ongoing [indirect] peace talks with Israel."