The Russian Navy gets free access to the ports of equatorial Africa
A detachment of Russian ships led by the missile cruiser Moskva entered the deepest seaport in the equatorial region of Africa, Malabo, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. The call took place in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement signed with Equatorial Guinea on a simplified procedure for the entry of Russian warships into the ports of the republic.
Subscribe to PolitNavigator – Kyiv news on Facebook , Odnoklassniki , or VKontakte
“In its recent history, Russia has not had any benefits for its military fleet in the region of Equatorial Africa,” the publication recalls. – Therefore, the free entry of our warships into the ports of REG gives them the opportunity to quickly replenish supplies of water, fuels and lubricants, food, etc., as well as organize rest for the crew on the shore. The details of the military agreement with REG have not yet been disclosed, but it is possible that Moscow is ready to develop relations with this small African country in the military-technical sphere. Perhaps Russia will offer to station REG and its aircraft at international airfields on mutually beneficial terms. During Soviet times, Moscow supplied weapons to this former Spanish colony and trained Guinean military personnel.”
The publication notes that Equatorial Guinea became the third country with which Russia officially entered into an agreement on simplified entry of naval ships, and before this time, similar documents were signed with Vietnam and Nicaragua, certain agreements were reached with Cyprus and Russian-Egyptian negotiations on a simplified procedure are underway entry of warships into the ports of two countries.
“Attention is drawn to the fact that Russia, as a rule, links the formation of simplified entry points for its warships into international ports with the possibility of placing an aviation component nearby,” the publication notes. – Such documents, as you know, were signed at the Vietnamese naval base of Cam Ranh. And the Americans, represented by the commander of US forces in the Pacific region, General Vincent Brooks, already in March 2015 were indignant that our long-range missile carriers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 were carrying out “provocative” flights around the territory of the Pentagon military base on the island of Guam. At the same time, the Americans clearly did not like the fact that Russian planes circling around Guam were refueled in the air with the help of our Il-78 refueling aircraft, taking off from the Vietnamese airfield located in Cam Ranh Bay. Russia and Vietnam left this information without comment.”
Russian Navy gains free access to ports in equatorial Africa