Russia's Boasts Of Becoming A Sea Power Are 'Hollow'

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Russia Seeks Sea Power With Decrepit Fleet -- Washington Times

Base expansion likely an empty threat.

Russia’s boast that it plans to extend its naval forces to bases in Cuba, the Seychelles and Vietnam poses little strategic threat to U.S. interests in Latin America, the Indian Ocean or the Pacific, analysts say.

It is more a political move than a military one, as President Vladimir Putin continues to contest American supremacy, particularly during the Syrian crisis.

The Russian fleet may number 300 ships, about the same as the U.S. Navy, but its aging warships are less advanced than America’s high-powered guided-missile cruisers and destroyers. The Kremlin owns only one operational aircraft carrier, as opposed to Washington’s 11 nuclear-powered carriers and strike groups that comprise what is called a “blue-water” navy able to operate far from home.

Moscow deploys few ships outside its waters, while the Pentagon stations a quarter of the fleet at sea at any one time.

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My Comment: I concur with this analysis. Recent comments by Russian officials that they will seek naval bases overseas are being made more to gain political points at home .... while ignoring the "sad state" of the present Russian navy and the difficult and costly decisions that will need to be made to modernize it.