The expansion of the base of the Russian Navy in Syria’s Tartus due to the situation in the region, said the first Deputy Chairman of the Duma Committee on defense Alexander Sherin. His assessment he shared in an interview with “Tape.ru”.
“The situation in the region dictates the amount of equipment, personnel. If at the moment there is a need to increase the base, the corresponding decisions”, — said the Deputy.
In addition, Sherin pointed to the opportunity to gain experience for Russian units in combat conditions. “When we spend money, get combat experience, including the cost of living, we need not only to consolidate, but to strengthen”, — said the MP.
20 January it became known that Russia and Syria reached an agreement under which the base of the Russian fleet in Tartus will be expanded and modernized. By agreement of the parties, at the same time in Tartus can be no more than 11 warships from Russia, including ships with nuclear power unit. External security of the coastal borders of the base assigned on the Syrian side, the defense object, sea and air — in Russian.
In November, the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on defense and security Viktor Ozerov said that after modernization of the infrastructure of the Russian base in Tartus will be able to take ships of the first rank. We are talking about nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, including the cruiser “Admiral Kuznetsov”.
720 point of logistics (e & p) was deployed at the Tartus during 1984. It was used for operations of the 5th operational squadron of the Soviet Navy in the Mediterranean sea. In 1990-e years of e & p in Tartus was not collapsed, however, existed in abbreviated form. In 2009, the Russian defense Ministry announced the expansion of the presence in Tartus.
Tartus is the second largest port city in Syria after Latakia.