Russian rapid response naval force in Mediterranean Sea

A Russian rapid response naval force in the Mediterranean Sea will consist of 5-6 warships, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Chirkov stated. The Command of the Russian Black Sea Fleet will be in command of the Russian rapid response naval force, Chirkov said in an interview with the television channel Zvezda on Sunday. On March 11, Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu stated the Russian Navy decided “to form the command of a Russian rapid response naval force in the Mediterranean Sea, where this naval force will be deployed on the permanent basis.” “I believe that we have all the capacities to form and provide for the operation of this naval force,” the defence minister said at an enlarged meeting of the top brass of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Defence Ministry told Itar-Tass that the Russian rapid response naval force in the Mediterranean Sea will be formed mainly from the warships of the Northern Fleet. Other warships will be dispatched from the Black Sea Fleet. The scope of the tasks of the Russian Navy is broadening over intensively growing expenses for the naval forces, editor of the specific edition Moscow Defense Brief Mikhail Barabanov told Itar-Tass. “Meanwhile, from the geopolitical point of view the deployment of the Russian naval force in the Mediterranean Sea will permit Russia to demonstrate the national flag naturally and have some kind of instrument (though a potential instrument) to settle political issues, if it is needed,” the expert noted.