U.S. boosts Mediterranean presence, Russia says no plans to expand fleet

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia’s naval force in the Mediterranean Sea will not be expanded despite the worsening situation in the region, a military-diplomatic source in Moscow told RIA Novosti, the news agency said.

“There have been no orders to expand anything there, and there will not be. The strength and type of forces that we have in the Mediterranean Sea today are sufficient to keep us fully informed about what is happening,” the source said.

He also confirmed local media reports Monday, September 2 that the electronic intelligence ship Priazovye is being sent to the region, but explained that this is part of regular rotation within Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

“Yes, we want to know what is happening in this key region in which Russia has serious interests. We want to see and know what is happening there, what to prepare for in this region,” the source added.

Early on Monday, the USS Nimitz and four other ships in its strike group moved into the Red Sea, U.S. defence officials said, describing the move as “prudent planning” in case the ships are needed for military action against Syria, according to Reuters. The nuclear-powered Nimitz is accompanied by the Princeton, a cruiser, and three destroyers — the William P. Lawrence, Stockdale and Shoup, according to the officials.

The U.S. Navy has doubled its presence in the eastern Mediterranean in the past week, effectively adding two destroyers to the three that generally patrol the region, and diverting the San Antonio, which carries four massive CH-53 helicopters and 300 Marines, from another mission.

The destroyers are carrying a combined load of about 200 Tomahawk missiles, but officials say a limited strike on Syria could be accomplished with half that number.