Russia has no plans for military bases in Latin America – Lavrov
Moscow has no plans of creating military bases in Latin America but might establish some sustainment centers for the Russian Navy there, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Rossiya TV channel after a trip to four countries in the region.
“There will be no bases – we don’t need them,” Lavrov
said on Rossiya's news show ‘Sergey Brilev’s News on Saturday,’
noting that in order for the Russian Navy to sail worldwide, it
needs sustainment centers for refueling, maintenance of the
vessels, and recreation of the crews.
“We’re not after setting up such centers in every
country,” the minister stressed. “We will consider the
proposals and these centers will be set up wherever it would be
best possible for our Navy to negotiate with the host
countries,” Lavrov said.
Back in March, there were reports that Russia may open naval
bases overseas, with Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela
named as possible locations. Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly
Antonov then elaborated that Moscow had no intentions of setting
up any military bases in Latin America and is only considering
sustainment centers for Russian military ships in various ports
across the globe.
At the moment, Russia has military bases in Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Tajikistan, and
South Ossetia.
