Russian navy and Israeli military will hold joint exercises
Russian navy nears Cyprus drilling zone | Defence news from Greece and Cyprus.
(This piece leaves me speechless…. Are the Russians actually IN on the plan to weaken Iran and just playing the good cop? – JW)
THE “Admiral Kuznetsov” class aircraft carrier is currently off the coast of Malta and heading for eastern Mediterranean from their base in the Barents Sea.
Informed sources have said that the Russian navy and Israeli military will hold joint exercises next week close to Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone.
The exercises are slated to begin on the 28th November and last a week.
Commentators say that Russia is determined to send the message that they have invested interests in the region and will secure them.
It is understood that the aircraft carrier is carrying 24-fixed wing planes and a number of helicopters. It has also been reported in the press that the Russian navy may request to use port facilities at Limassol.
The radio report also claimed that three Russian destroyers are currently anchored off the Syrian coast. Russia’s naval supply and maintenance site near Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartus will be modernized to accommodate heavy warships after 2012, the Russian Navy chief said earlier this week.
“Tartus will be developed as a naval base. The first stage of development and modernization will be completed in 2012,” Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said, adding it could then serve as a base for guided-missile cruisers and even aircraft carriers.
The Soviet-era facility is operated under a 1971 agreement by Russian personnel.
Russian relations with Cyprus are at their best in many years. Last month, the Russian Ambassador to Cyprus Vyacheslav Shumskiy said that Moscow fully supports the sovereign right of Cyprus to exploit its natural resources.
“Our position is absolutely clear , and we were among the first countries to comment on that, and we totally support the sovereign right of the Cypriot people for exploitation of natural resources , this is totally in accordance with the international law and with the EU regulations, so there is no doubt about that”, he noted.
Invited to comment on Turkish threats against Cyprus, he said that Turkey’s position is not “very wise”.
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WarSclerotic 
November 26, 2011 at 9:48 PM
The russians want to make clear that Assad kamikaze attack on Israel is not an option from their point of view. Should such a scenario occur , the russians interests in the Middle East will be severed in a very grave manner. Therefore, being the strongest supporters of Assad, they also say to him : Israel is tabu , don’t touch it. The russians know very well that such a provocation from the syrian dying regime will bring disaster on Tehran too, and that they want very much to avoid. It is simply to early -from their part- for such events.
And there is another good reason for the russians to be nice with Israel : they say ” hey, we don’t mean to hurt you; you see , we are good;we just are here in a crosier across the beautiful waters of Mediterranean Sea. Why shall you not join to us , too ? ”
November 26, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Reblogged this on Vasile Roata.