Russia is sending two warships to the East Mediterranean on Thursday, just as Western Powers are deploying their naval forces in preparation for a possible military strike on Syria. The Eurasian country, one of Syria’s strongest allies, has denied that the dispatching of their ships was linked to the situation in Syria but rather was part of a long-planned rotation.
A Russian Naval spokesperson told the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, “The vessels in the Mediterranean, like those in other parts of the world, act under plans by the Russian Naval Command and General Staff, and fulfill tasks set. On completion of these tasks, the vessels then either return to their bases, or are replaced by other vessels to complete the tasks set. This does not amount to a renewal of any grouping or groupings, it is a planned rotation.”
However, according to Reuters, Interfax news agency quoted another source as saying, “The well-known situation now in the eastern Mediterranean required us to make some adjustments to the naval force,” in reference to geopolitical tensions in Syria.
The differing reports of RIA and Interfax leave further confusion as to the true intentions of the Russian deployment of naval forces, but defense experts have stated that even if Russia does not attack the Western powers already stationed in the Mediterranean, the two warships could give Syrian President Bashar al-Assad early warning of any Western attacks.