Russia gets permanent airbase in Syria. Now it's looking at Cuba and Vietnam

October 08, 2016 01:02

Russia ratified a treaty with Syria on Friday that gives Moscow its first permanent airbase in the Middle East, a symbol of the Kremlin's desire to project strength overseas, as Russian officials considered renewing other Soviet-era bases in Cuba and Vietnam.

Friday's developments were largely symbolic: With the onslaught of Russian airstrikes in Syria, Moscow has left no doubt about its commitment to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad; there's no clear evidence that either Cuba or Vietnam would be open to the return of the Russian military.

But it's clear that Moscow is acting on bringing to life President Vladimir Putin's vision of Russia as a global military power, at a time when tensions between Moscow and Washington are as high as they've been since the Cold War.

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