Russian military vessels are anchored at a navy base in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea, Feb. 27, 2014.
Russia Raises Military Clout With Reforms After Georgian War -- Voice of America/Reuters
LONDON — Refitting Soviet-era warships, fielding new aircraft and tanks and seeking new overseas bases, the Russian military that now has troops on alert amidst a crisis in Ukraine is more potent than the force which briefly fought Georgia six years ago.
Moscow is seriously investing in building its clout. Since 2008, it has raised military spending by almost a third and drastically reformed both the armed forces and defense industry to tackle post-Cold War decay.
But Russian forces remain much weaker than at their Soviet peak and face huge problems ranging from corruption to a long-term shortage of recruits, not to mention the risk of insurgency if they ever set foot in Ukraine.
Read more ....
Update: Russia's Resurgence Is A Reaction To Obama's Retreat -- IBD Editorial
Previous Post: Russian Military To Expand It's Presence Worldwide
My Comment: Moscow has prioritized the modernization of the Russian military in the past few years .... and they show no signs of stopping. But having modern weapons does not mean that old habits are going to die overnight, and for the Russian military that means corruption.
Update #2: Russia with plans for military bases in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela -- Merco Press
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