While Barry is focusing on basketball brackets, golf, gay football players, climate change, obamacare, welfare checks for his voters, etc., Putin has been busy.


Away from the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is quietly seeking a foothold in Latin America, military officials warn.

To the alarm of lawmakers and Pentagon officials, Putin has begun sending navy ships and long-range bombers to the region for the first time in years.

Russia’s defense minister says the country is planning bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and just last week, Putin’s national security team met to discuss increasing military ties in the region.
“They’re on the march,” Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) said at a Senate hearing earlier this month. “They’re working the scenes where we can’t work. And they’re doing a pretty good job.”

Gen. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command said there has been a “noticeable uptick in Russian power projection and security force personnel” in Latin America.

“It has been over three decades since we last saw this type of high-profile Russian military presence,” Kelly said at the March 13 hearing.

The U.S. military says it has been forced to cut back on its engagement with military and government officials in Latin America due to budget cuts. Kelly said the U.S. military had to cancel more than 200 effective engagement activities and multi-lateral exercises in Latin America last year.

http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/pol...um=twitter

Im a Russia hawk. But no need to get concerned here.

Here's why we shouldn't get too concerned with Russia in Latin America

1) Russia's will likely get a base in Cuba and Venezuela. That's not a surprise. But Russia cannot afford to subsidize either nation and both have economic problems that are likely to get much worse.
2) Beyond that, Russia cannot gain much support elsewhere. They have nothing to offer. Obama isn't threatening them. And their economies are largely tied to the USA. And Venezuela is showing itself to be a shining example of what the Russian model produces.
3) Latin Americans are largely pro-Western. Increasingly they embrace liberal values that Russia is the antithesis of.

Lets predict what will come of this Russia - Latin America play

Venezuela - Russia will get bases and there will be more riots as a result.
Cuba - Russia will get bases and there will be no impact
Nicaragua - Russia will not get bases and will achieve little influence. Ortega needs to keep the economy afloat. And the economy is largely tied to the USA.
Mexico - No. Russia will get nowhere there.
Brazil - Dilma will win reelection, but Russia is very unpopular there. Any move towards the Russians would cause even more strife on the streets of its large cities. By the way, Sao Paulo had an Gay pride rally last year that had well over TWO MILLION people participate in it (and contained a lot of anti-Putin signage). Rio had a million. There will be massive protests if Brazil moves towards Russia. And political consequences for the Brazilian government. Large and influential Eastern European diaspora as well in Brazil.
Argentina - Kirchener wants to stay in power and is in an economic hole. She's desperate enough to work with Putin. But she's on her way out. There is a huge and popular Gay community exists in Argentina. Also a huge Ukrainian and Eastern European diaspora exists there too. We all loathe Putin right now. I fail to see how Russia's invasion of Crimea helps Argentina's claims to the Falklands from a precedent setting perspective.
Bolivia - will be pro-Russia. But inconsequential.
Chile - just elected a 'leftist' President. But she's a classic liberal that holds positions completely opposite to those of Russia
Peru - Humala is a leftist but understands that economics need to drive the government. Peru needs the USA much more than they need Russia. Humala ran, and lost two election cycles after the opposition ran a campaign against him called "Peru is not Venezuela" attacking his links to Chavez. Humala won the next election by cutting his ties to Chavez and boosting those with the USA. He's kept those ties after There is zero support for any bases in Peru by any foreign power.
Ecuador - Correa hates the USA. But he is again, completely dependent upon the USA. Its unlikely Russia gains much influence there.
Colombia - They love the USA and loathe Russia

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Its going to be hard for Russia to gain much influence in Latin America

1) Latin Americans loathe corruption - Russia is seen as corruption central
2) Latin Americans don't want Russian bases any more than they want American ones.
3) Russia's violent pogrom against persons of color and Gay persons is doing colossal damage to Russia's prestige in the region (racist chants against Brazilian football players, violent attacks on Latin American students in Moscow, attacks on Gay persons get lots of airtime down there and result in more forceful protests against Russia in Latin America then they do in the USA).
4) Obama has given the America haters in Latin America little ammunition to claim American persecution in the region.
5) Russia's allies in the region all have massive economic problems. Russia can't afford to bail them out.
6) Latin America's large nations all have huge Eastern European diasporas
7) Any move by an unpredictable and invasionary Russia into Latin America would serve to INCREASE American support by the neighbors of the host nation. No one trusts Putin. No one like Putin.

In short the play will be very quiet.

No real need to spend more money right now. Spending money isn't going to stop Russian bases in Venezuela or Cuba. If they get too close to Nicaragua, we have cheaper ways of shutting that down. Increased military presence in Eastern Europe is warrented. And increased military presence in Latin America might actually be counterproductive barring more Russian moves.