Previously we asked what the Obama Administration’s reset policy towards Russia got us. Today we report on another example of the Russians doing just want they want to do—securing their position in two Georgian rebelous regions.
Russia continues to flex its muscles in Georgia’s breakaway region known as Abkhazia. Georgia reported last week that the Russians had taken an “extremely dangerous provocative step” according to the Georgian foreign ministry by deploying the S-300 missile defense system. The S-300 is Russia’s most sophisticated missile defense system. It has been delaying deploying this system to Iran.
"It is absolutely beyond understanding what aims this extremely dangerous provocative step may serve, which poses a threat not only to the Black Sea region but to the security of Europe as a whole," the Georgian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The foreign ministry went on to say that the deployment would "put into jeopardy the security of civil aviation in the region. The statement called on the international community “to take decisive measures to make Russia abandon its policy of military build-up on Georgia's occupied territories and fully comply with its international commitments."
This Georgian statement follows a Russian announcement that it had deployed the S-300 missile system in Abkhazia. The Russian went on to say that it would provide anti-aircraft defense for both Abkhazia and Georgia's other Moscow-backed rebel region, South Ossetia.
The Russian Air Force commander announced that Russia had deployed the S-300 missile system on Abkhaz territory, which would join other air defense systems of the ground forces to protect the air space of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"The task of these air defense systems is not only to cover the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but also to avert violations of their state borders in the air and destroy any vehicle illegally penetrating their air space, whatever the goal of its mission," Zelin said.
The Russians publicly defended their move as necessary for the air defense of the two rebellious regions. Yet analysts noted that Russia's flexing of military muscles was aimed not only at Georgian "hawks," but also those whom Russia regards as their backstage supporters, namely the United States and NATO.
The S-300 was first manufactured by the former Soviet Union in 1978 (This says something about Russian military modernization.) the S-300 is a surface-to-air missile system capable of tracking and destroying ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft at a range of 60-125 miles.
The US State Department played down the announcement. The State Department spokesman said that:: "I believe it's our understanding that Russia has had S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the past two years."
A Russian analyst said that because of the S-300 deployment, the military and political situations may become more complicated in the Caucasus region. He went on to argue that the billion dollars worth of aid that the US has given Georgia in the last two years also contributed to the complications.
Some time ago we reported on the Russian invasion of the two rebel regions and which Georgia insists are an integral part of its territory. Russia recognized the two regions as independent regions after its war with Georgia two years ago. At the time we reported that though Russia quickly over ran the US trained Georgian troops, that they still did not look professional in doing so. That 2008 brief invasion saw Russian forces attack into Georgia after fighting broke out over South Ossetia region. Some feel that this was the worst post-Cold War crisis between Russia and the West, so far. The European Union brokered ceasefire has held, despite continuing tensions.
The Russians continue to flex their muscles. The Obama administration’s “reset” of relations with Russia does not seem to have accomplished much. We have the START treaty that I have argued is not necessarily in our best interest. We have had the Russian spy incident several months ago. Recently, I reported that the Russians are selling gas to Iran. And next week the Russians will start up the nuclear reactor that they built for the Iranians. What did reset get us?
Comments
"The S-300 is Russia’s most sophisticated missile defense system"
"(This says something about Russian military modernization)"
Acctually the S-400 would more likely be Russias most sophisticated missile defense system which was first built post 2000,
We all knows it pays to be in the Russian branding business, you what to launch your career, brand Russia as an evil empire after all what is there to talk about. there seem to be a good reason for american military adventure all over the world even when they deploy their own missile killer in Russian borders, but in the case of Russia, no justification for it to gain traction you have to re brand that. If gimo was to be in Russia you will see all kind of imaginable write up in the west.
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