I know sharing “sick burns” on Twitter is all the rage, but some things are more important. For example, the permanent redeployment of military assets. While everyone is distracted by Agent Orange’s public masturbation, Russia is changing the game.
I include the map above because Americans are notoriously bad in geography. As Jon Stewart wryly noted, we learn geography based on who we are bombing today. Putin’s announcement in May that Russia planned to deploy a permanent fleet in the Mediterranean is now a reality. Here is what the newly established fleet -- armed with Kalibr missiles -- now can impact:
All southern Europe, including such NATO military assets as Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, Combined Air Operations Centers in Larissa, Greece, and in Poggio Renatico, Italy, Headquarters Allied Land Command and Air Power Command in Izmir, Turkey, NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey, Graf Ignatievo and Bezmer air bases in Bulgaria used by US Air Force as well as a lot of other key NATO defense infrastructure sites happen to be within the range of Kalibr missiles installed on the platforms patrolling the Mediterranean Sea. They’ll all be knocked out with first salvos in case a Russia-NATO war starts.
Russia’s interest in Syria was always a hill they were willing to die on. The naval base there was the only warm water port they had outside of Russia. The fighting in Syria put that at risk. They didn’t start the civil war, but they sure as hell were not going to let it cost them a critical strategic asset. Even with their involvement, we were able to keep them bottled up in the Black Sea. But that has changed with our departure from the world stage as leader. In the regional vacuum created by the absence of American leadership, Russia has stepped in. Russia has demonstrated they, not the USA, are firmly in control of the region. Everyone following this got the message when Putin reined in Israel with a phone call. The permanent deployment of the Black Sea fleet to the Mediterranean now puts muscle behind the perception. [emphasis added to address the commentary below].
The Fleet’s operations are not limited to the Black Sea basin and the Mediterranean. It establishes the base they always needed (but never had) to transition the Russian navy into a blue water force. With a base of operations in the Mediterranean, Russian ships will be able to move beyond the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal.
This expanded (nuclear capable) naval presence is now being supported by an expanded air presence. US Navy Mediterranean deployments in support of ballistic missile defense are intended, in part, as moves to check Russia’s strategic nuclear capability. With Russia’s continuous presence in the region, Aegis ships as well as aircraft carriers become potential targets for the sea-based missiles now deployed.
Coupled with China’s expansion in the South China Sea, we are looking at the result of America’s withdrawal from the world stage under Trump. Expect this trend to continue.