Russia seeks navy presence in Mediterranean

By Guy Faulconbridge

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia should have a permanent naval presence in the Mediterranean, the head of its navy said on Friday, mirroring the military ambitions of the Soviet Union.

"The Mediterranean Sea is very important strategically for the Black Sea fleet," Admiral Vladimir Masorin said during a visit to the base of the fleet in the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, RIA news agency reported.

"I propose that, with the involvement of the Northern and Baltic fleets, the Russian Navy should restore its permanent presence there."

Buoyed by huge oil revenues and with President Vladimir Putin showing increasing assertiveness, Russia has been boosting military spending while at the same time using diplomacy to broaden Moscow's influence, especially in the Middle East.

A Russian force would further extend Moscow's influence in the Middle East and it would share Mediterranean waters with the U.S. Sixth Fleet, whose home base is in Italy.

During the Cold War, the Soviet navy had a permanent presence on the Mediterranean, using the Syrian port of Tartus as a supply point, military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer told Reuters. He said that port could be revived as a base.

"It has been the dream of our admirals for a long time to restore our naval greatness and keep the task force we had under the Soviet Union," he said.