Russia seeks navy presence in Mediterranean

Russia’s navy should have a permanent presence in the Mediterranean Sea, navy chief Admiral Vladimir Masorin said on Friday, Interfax news agency reported.

“The Mediterranean Sea is very important strategically for the Black Sea fleet,” Masorin said during a visit to the base of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in the Ukrainian city of Sevastopol. Masorin did not say where Russian ships would be based in the Mediterranean Sea, where Russia has no coast. (Reuters)