Yikes! A major positioning of Russia in the Americas

[coffeeFreak]

By Anthony Faiola and Karen DeYoung
December 24

CARACAS — As allies go, Venezuela is a relatively cheap one for Russia. But the potential returns on Moscow’s investment there could be priceless.

In exchange for modest loans and bailouts over the past decade, Russia now owns significant parts of at least five oil fields in Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest reserves, along with 30 years’ worth of future output from two Caribbean natural-gas fields.

Venezuela also has signed over 49.9 percent of Citgo, its wholly owned company in the United States — including three Gulf Coast refineries and a countrywide web of pipelines — as collateral to Russia’s state-owned Rosneft oil behemoth for a reported $1.5 billion in desperately needed cash...

...Under President Vladi­mir Putin, Russia has reestablished itself as a major player in the Middle East, a power broker in Asia and a global supplier of increasingly sophisticated weaponry. By becoming Venezuela’s patron — while gobbling up its resources — Putin has not only poked a stick in the eye of the United States; he also has built on his self-proclaimed reputation at home as the man who is returning Russia to the superpower status it lost with the fall of the Soviet Union.

For Russia, the establishment of a political outpost in the Western Hemisphere is “a strategic win,” said Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas and the Americas Society.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-venezuela-russia-pockets-key-energy-assets-in-exchange-for-cash-bailouts/2018/12/20/da458db6-f403-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html?utm_term=.5d73db5e8b52

[OKkayak]

Don't worry, after the eco-hypocrites are done here, we'll be next on the auction block

[Even Steven]

Also, there are rumours of Venezuela give them carte blanche to use one of the islands as a stopping pit for their strategic bombers - which might mean a future military base in the making.

[Ka-El]

...Under President Vladi­mir Putin, Russia has reestablished itself as a major player in the Middle East, a power broker in Asia and a global supplier of increasingly sophisticated weaponry. By becoming Venezuela’s patron — while gobbling up its resources — Putin has not only poked a stick in the eye of the United States; he also has built on his self-proclaimed reputation at home as the man who is returning Russia to the superpower status it lost with the fall of the Soviet Union.

Unlike the American president, Putin is no dummy. He is patient and methodical and the plans of returning Russia to its former glory has been a plan long in the works - with Trump's election possibly being a part of that plan. We know the Russians have long been interfering with western elections seeking to destabilize the west, and it seems to be becoming quite clear they were heavily involved with influencing the American election. Interesting times indeed.

[Vacancyrate]

Also, there are rumours of Venezuela give them carte blanche to use one of the islands as a stopping pit for their strategic bombers - which might mean a future military base in the making.

How many Russian military bases outside of Russian borders compared to the US?

I guess Russia is supposed to just sit idle while the US tries to take over the world by force?

Russia is not a empire-state. Their military doctrine is strictly self defense which is why they don't have hundreds of military bases across the globe and own a single aircraft carrier. They are surrounded by NATO bases and the US promised that NATO wouldn't expand closer to Russia, but they expanded it anyways.

This is why Russia developed a new generation of doomsday nuclear weapons. The US is trying to nullify Russia's ability to defend itself by placing anti-missilies right on their borders. If the US decides to roll over Russia, a few weeks later every port city in the US will be glowing green.

"Russia isn't allowed to defend itself" is quite an opinion to get behind.

[Ka-El]

And on a related note ...

Is Russia about to invade Ukraine again? That may depend on Trump.

IT HAS been five weeks since Russia assaulted Ukrainian Navy ships that were passing through international waters near the occupied Crimean Peninsula. Though the world’s attention has moved on, Russian forces have not: On the contrary, they are massed near Crimea’s border with eastern Ukraine, prompting warnings from the Ukrainian government as well as independent observers that the regime of Russian President Vladi¬mir Putin may be planning a new attack on the country. Rather than await the Russians’ next move, the Trump administration should be working with allies to actively deter further aggression.

Since the Nov. 25 naval attack, in which Russia seized three Ukrainian vessels and captured 23 crew members, its ships have maintained a stranglehold on the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, and strictly limited ship traffic to Ukrainian ports. That activity blatantly violates international law and a treaty under which Russia and Ukraine agreed to share the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov.

But apart from President Trump’s cancellation of a planned meeting with Mr. Putin shortly after the original incident, Moscow has suffered no significant consequences.

Now, the Ukrainians and independent observers are warning that Mr. Putin may be planning a ground offensive. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported on Dec. 23 that Russian military convoys had been moving toward the border between Crimea and Ukrainian-held territory, and that fighter jets had been redeployed to Crimean airfields. Though the purpose of the military movements is unclear, the ISW said, “The data suggests that Putin is preparing to attack.”

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/opi ... &ocid=iehp

[bob vernon]

Vlad got on the phone to Don and told him not to raise a stink about the Russian base that's going into Venezuela. If Don does anything, Vlady will release the peeing tape. Don knows his place.

[monilynno]

Vlad got on the phone to Don and told him not to raise a stink about the Russian base that's going into Venezuela. If Don does anything, Vlady will release the peeing tape. Don knows his place.

You just still don't get it, Clinton paid for all that fake Russia "dossier". The only "collusion with Russia was with the Clinton campaign and the DNC.

[Omnitheo]

Right...that’s why so many have been going to jail...

[Ka-El]

Russian media threatens Europe with 200 megaton nuclear 'doomsday' device

Russian media appeared to threaten Europe and the world with an article in MK.ru saying that a new nuclear torpedo could create towering tsunami waves and destroy vast swaths of the earth's population.

Russia's "Poseidon" nuclear torpedo, which leaked in 2015 before being confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2018, represents a different kind of nuclear weapon.

The US and Russia have, since the end of World War II, fought to match and exceed each other in a nuclear arms race that resulted in both countries commanding fleets of nuclear bombers, submarines, and silos of intercontinental missiles all scattered across each country.

But Russia's Poseidon takes a different course.

<snip>

Russia's media, and especially MK.ru, often engage in hyperbole which overstates the country's nuclear capabilities and willingness to fight.

But with the Poseidon missile, which appears custom-built to end life on Earth, Russia has shown it actually does favor spectacularly dangerous nuclear weapons as a means of trying to bully other countries.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/rus ... &ocid=iehp

[Vacancyrate]

Russian media threatens Europe with 200 megaton nuclear 'doomsday' device

Russian media appeared to threaten Europe and the world with an article in MK.ru saying that a new nuclear torpedo could create towering tsunami waves and destroy vast swaths of the earth's population.

Russia's "Poseidon" nuclear torpedo, which leaked in 2015 before being confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2018, represents a different kind of nuclear weapon.

The US and Russia have, since the end of World War II, fought to match and exceed each other in a nuclear arms race that resulted in both countries commanding fleets of nuclear bombers, submarines, and silos of intercontinental missiles all scattered across each country.

But Russia's Poseidon takes a different course.

<snip>

Russia's media, and especially MK.ru, often engage in hyperbole which overstates the country's nuclear capabilities and willingness to fight.

But with the Poseidon missile, which appears custom-built to end life on Earth, Russia has shown it actually does favor spectacularly dangerous nuclear weapons as a means of trying to bully other countries.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/rus ... &ocid=iehp

You purposely forgot to mention that this was a reactionary move by Russia, in response to the US putting anti-missiles right on the Russian border and lying about it and breaking a nuclear treaty.

Russia is justified in it's defense of it's people.

When the USA broke the nuclear treaty and put anti missile systems in NATO countries bordering Russia, they were provoking Russia and eliminating Russia's ability to defend itself from attack. Additionally by breaking the treaty the USA removed the 80 year long detente of MAD (mutually assured destruction) that has kept the world safe and from from blowing itself up.

Russia brought back the counterbalance to the world.

No single country can just nuke the world without fearing retaliation.

Thank you Russia!

[Ka-El]

Russia is justified in it's defense of it's people.

Yes, clearly we're discussing a weapon of defense here.

[GordonH]

I trust Putin as much as I trust Kim Jong-un or Trump (actually any politician). I put absolutely no trust in any politician.

[Vacancyrate]

*removed*

[GordonH]

Yes, clearly we're discussing a weapon of defense here.

Maybe you should do some reading on nuclear warfare before making such statements.

Since only 1 country has ever used a nuclear device on human beings, twice actually. The thing is was it actually necessary since the country these devices was used on, was on verge of surrender due to pounding of conventional weapons.