Putin uncertain on need for permanent base in Syria, Russian missiles can reach any target

Russian President Vladimir Putin is uncertain whether Russia really needs a permanent military base in Syria, because the cruise missiles at its disposal enable Moscow to reach any potential targets located far away.

"Some here [in Russia - TASS] and there [in Syria - TASS] believe that there should be a base. I don’t have such certainty," Putin said.

European counterparts have voiced the suspicion Russia was hatching plans for having a base there in order to keep everything in Syria under control.

"But why should we keep everything under control there?" Putin said, adding that Russia had demonstrated the capability of its missiles to cover long distances.

"We did not have that resource [since the elimination of the ground-based cruise missiles]. Now we have it. The sea-launched Kalibr has a range of 1,500 kilometers, and the other, air-launched one, X-101, 4,500 kilometers," Putin said.

"Why should we have a base there? If we are to really hit some target, we will do that," Putin said.

The Russian leader said that Moscow was hearing repeated promises its interests in Syria would be taken into account, including the possibility of deploying a base there.

"Generally I don’t know if we really need a base or not," Putin said. He explained that such infrastructures would have to be invested in. In the meantime, the temporary high-tech modules deployed at the base in Syria’s Latakia can be assembled in two days’ time and airlifted back to Russian airdromes by Antonov-22 planes.

"Possibly, there is some sense (in the existence of a base), but all that is still very fishy. This is worth considering. A temporary logistics point? That’s a possibility. But taking roots there, getting bogged in that situation? No, I don’t see an urgent need for that. We’ll see," Putin said.......http://tass.ru/en/politics/844836
17/12/15
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