Now we are proud that Russia finally has its first military base in the far abroad. This is, of course, about Syria (Latakia). But after the collapse of the USSR, “Young Russia” for some reason in large numbers closed its bases abroad and even in the CIS countries. Let us recall the losses and note that they took place not only under the “drunken” Yeltsin, but also under the “patriots” Putin-Medvedev.
So who is the Evil Empire?
It is clear that in terms of the number of military bases around the world, the USSR was much inferior to the Americans. Think about these numbers: in 1989, 213,000 American troops were stationed at 858 bases in Europe alone! This is a colossus! And who is after that the Evil Empire? Now, by the way, there are 26 thousand American officers and soldiers at 80 bases. And here is a complete list of Soviet bases for 1989 by country: GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Cuba (Havana, Lourdes, El Gabriel and Cienfuegos), Egypt (Alexandria and Mersa Matruhe), Syria (Latakia and Tartus), Ethiopia (Dahlak), Yemen (Socotra and Aden), Angola (Luanda), Guinea (Conakry), Libya (Tripoli and Tobruk), Tunisia (Bizerte and Sfax), Vietnam (Cam Ranh). Taking into account the fact that there were many bases in the European countries of the socialist camp, in total we get 36 military facilities in 15 countries of the globe. As for the permanent,but the rotated staff, it was about 45 thousand Soviet military personnel. Here we have not deliberately counted the GDR yet.
And after the collapse of the USSR, the new Russian authorities, as Yeltsin and Foreign Minister Kozyrev said, in exchange for a promise from NATO and the United States not to accept new members from the former Warsaw Pact countries into the Northern Alliance, began to massively curtail domestic military and naval base. Almost immediately, our troops were withdrawn from Europe and Africa. But the departure from the GDR was especially shameful. How triumphantly Russian troops entered Germany in 1945, so humiliatingly they swept out in 1994. Moreover, it was not the Germans who humiliated them, but the President of the Russian Federation, who, at the parade of the withdrawal of military formations, kicked wildly and conducted a military orchestra with a completely ghoul look. And if you also considerthat Defense Minister Grachev received the nickname "Pasha-Mercedes" (he was suspected of selling military property and buying popular German cars with these funds for sale in Russia), then one can understand how honest officers would have liked to just rip the shoulder straps. Many did so. Yes, the Soviet military grouping in the GDR numbered as much as 337 thousand people in 1991. But the fact is that such a number was fixed by post-war documents and, in fact, our troops in the GDR were not guests at a military base, but internal troops. But it is even less clear why Yeltsin's Russia abandoned bases on the territory of the former USSR, which have been there since the days of the Russian Empire. The withdrawal from Georgia, where the bases were located in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, was especially stupid. It happened in 1999, even ahead of schedule,than was stipulated by the agreement between the countries (2003). It is absolutely certain: if the Russian military in 2008 were based on the territory of Georgia, there would be no five-day war between the countries … Note also that American diplomacy strongly insisted on the withdrawal of Russian troops.
How can you refuse Bush Jr.? …
However, not in terms of quantity, but in quality, the military Russia suffered the most powerful and inexplicable losses from the point of view of logic under the second and third presidents of the Russian Federation. In February 2002, the last Russian military experts left the Cuban base in Lourdes (a suburb of Havana). It arose back in 1967, and it was the Electronic Intelligence Center that had no analogues in the world. Located just 250 kilometers from the US borders, it allowed to intercept radio data from almost the entire American territory!
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The equipment of the center has been modernized several times. In the days of the USSR, the lease of the base was free, and since 1993 Russia has paid $ 160 million annually, in 1996 the amount increased to $ 200 million. Not that much money. But what is there - funny for the ability to control the entire United States up and down. It is no coincidence that US President Bush Jr. literally begged Putin to leave the base. And he heeded the insistent request. What did you get in return? Nothing at all.
And in 2010, under President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin, Russia left another unique base - in Vietnamese Kamran. It appeared here exactly 40 years ago. Cam Ranh Bay is recognized as one of the most convenient places for basing ships and vessels in the Pacific Ocean.
Officially, this place was called the 922nd PMTO (logistics center) and, in addition to the anchorage of ships and vessels in Cam Ranh Bay, included the Bashon (Ho Chi Minh) shipyard and a nearby large airfield. PMTO Cam Ranh was operated by the USSR Navy on the basis of a free lease for a period of 25 years. In accordance with the agreement, up to 10 Soviet surface ships, 8 submarines with a floating base and up to 6 other naval vessels could be simultaneously based in the military port of Cam Ranh. At the airfield, the simultaneous presence of 16 missile-carrying aircraft, 9 reconnaissance aircraft and 2 - 3 transport aircraft was allowed. Based on the situation, the number of ships and aircraft could be increased by agreement between the USSR and Vietnam. The total area of the base was about 100 square kilometers!The number of military and civilian contingents of the base in different years could reach 6-10 thousand people. And Russia voluntarily gave up such wealth … Now, by the way, Moscow is negotiating with the Vietnamese leadership to return to this base and territory, but the Vietnamese now want a lot of money …
When you list all our "basic" losses, you keep asking yourself the question of Pavel Milyukov, a politician at the beginning of the last century: "What is this - stupidity or betrayal?" I hope historians will answer this question during our lifetime.
Help "War and Fatherland"
Now Russia has only 11 foreign military bases, almost all of them are located on the territory of the former USSR: in Abkhazia (2), Armenia (2), Belarus (2), Kyrgyzstan, Transnistria, Syria, Tajikistan and South Ossetia. According to rumors, Moscow is negotiating the creation of its bases in Venezuela, Cuba, the Central African Republic, Nicaragua, and Vietnam.
Magazine: War and Fatherland №9. Author: Radik Luchevoy