Argentina agrees to host Russian military bases

[Arturia Polaris]

Full article here:

http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/argent...merica-sleeps/

As an Argie, I'm flabbergasted and worried. Looks like we're the next Cuba. I guess you'll see me in arriving on the states on a canoe soon enough

[Fireminer]

Bringing the war to their own backyard, huh?

[Arturia Polaris]

Basically that. My guess is that Russia feels threatened what with the whole Romanian missile defense systems and the Syria crisis and constant NATO meddling on her backyard.

Latin america, as well as most of the 3rd world has been basically forgotten by almost everyone, which is why Russia is now building relations with them.

Nicaragua and Venezuela are soon to follow with the military bases.

All in all, weapon sellers will go richer while my poor Latin American neighbours as well as me will go even poorer.

[risingstar3110]

Could be just a symbolic show case (like with Syria), or to provide loyal troops for anti-coup situations (like the case with Venezuela). So i will not so hurry to call this the beginning of World War 3......


....yet

[Arturia Polaris]

This should still be treated by congress, I'm going to keep you posted on this. I live in the capital and I'll most likely be outside opposing this BS.

However, this is the same congress that made a very controversial treaty with Iran last year. However this is too serious.

[Irenicus]

Aren't you guys still in deep trouble with the insane inflation over there?

Guess Queen Christina is afraid of a coup or even revolution and want some Russian guns to back her up.

Good luck bro.

[Arturia Polaris]

Inflation is kicking in high gear now.

At least the IMF told the government to stop lying to us and they came out with a measurement (Which is still way off) of 3,4% inflation in FEB.

3,4% x 12 = Annual inflation.

Yeah, Estimates are not looking good. I do believe +30% annual was considered hyperinflation. Remember the Weimar Republic?

And this was an official figure. Private estimates go up to 5% in Feb.

My guess is that she got a gazillion of cash for this deal. The IMF I believe turned their backs on her so she turned to more... loanshark-ish source.

This pisses me off greatly because we were almost always neutral, historically. This breaks that tendency.

[Fireminer]

And I though inflation in Vietnam is bad.

Can't stay neutral forever, though. It's either being a world power yourself, or put under someone's umbrella.

[Tom Bombadil]

Originally Posted by Arturia Polaris

Basically that. My guess is that Russia feels threatened what with the whole Romanian missile defense systems and the Syria crisis and constant NATO meddling on her backyard.

Latin america, as well as most of the 3rd world has been basically forgotten by almost everyone, which is why Russia is now building relations with them.

Nicaragua and Venezuela are soon to follow with the military bases.

All in all, weapon sellers will go richer while my poor Latin American neighbours as well as me will go even poorer.

Very reasonable analysis. However, it misses one key aspect: what is in it for Argentina? If everything is true, then the US is not going to be very happy about it (but seriously, with their capability, it shouldn't be a big threat), it would be a big surprise that the only thing Argentina gets from this deal is just some dollars. Argentina leaders should have their own calculations. They certainly didn't do it out of ideology or pressure from Russia.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by Tom Bombadil

Very reasonable analysis. However, it misses one key aspect: what is in it for Argentina? If everything is true, then the US is not going to be very happy about it (but seriously, with their capability, it shouldn't be a big threat), it would be a big surprise that the only thing Argentina gets from this deal is just some dollars. Argentina leaders should have their own calculations. They certainly didn't do it out of ideology or pressure from Russia.

I take it as Argentina's government is aiming for a dictatorship, and decided that it would be handy to have Russian troops to kill their own citizens when the riots start. Sort of the reverse of Ukraine; The Argentinian government does in this case, welcome Russian occupation, because they are too far away to be annexed.

[Ithekro]

Falklands? Would, or could such a move be used as a way to push the UK out?

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Falklands? Would, or could such a move be used as a way to push the UK out?

Russia probably will NOT help Argentina invade anywhere. There is not enough benefits. And anyway, the Falklands claim was just an excuse to distract the citizens. If they get Russian troops to purge rioters, there is no more need to pretend they want the Falklands.

[SaintessHeart]

Not much change, other than Northrop.

And at a good time too.

[JokerD]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

I take it as Argentina's government is aiming for a dictatorship, and decided that it would be handy to have Russian troops to kill their own citizens when the riots start. Sort of the reverse of Ukraine; The Argentinian government does in this case, welcome Russian occupation, because they are too far away to be annexed.

Not really, Russia is not stupid enough to intervene in an internal dispute so far from home. What they can do is veto any UN resolution and intervention as a perm security council member and let it go bloody while the world watches like Syria.

What I do suspect is that Russia needs another place to sell it's goods, now that Europe is beginning to diversify away from it. I was told previously that Russia accepts barter trades for military hardware so those countries hard up for cash can use goods instead. Not sure that still stands.

[Fireminer]

Originally Posted by JokerD

Not really, Russia is not stupid enough to intervene in an internal dispute so far from home. What they can do is veto any UN resolution and intervention as a perm security council member and let it go bloody while the world watches like Syria.

What I do suspect is that Russia needs another place to sell it's goods, now that Europe is beginning to diversify away from it. I was told previously that Russia accepts barter trades for military hardware so those countries hard up for cash can use goods instead. Not sure that still stands.

Agree! And not only Latin America, but Arabic Countries (http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/fr/c...ab-world.html#) too.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by JokerD

What I do suspect is that Russia needs another place to sell it's goods, now that Europe is beginning to diversify away from it. I was told previously that Russia accepts barter trades for military hardware so those countries hard up for cash can use goods instead. Not sure that still stands.

It still does, but on a factional scale. Otherwise how did Hezbollah get those Kornet rockets?

[Tom Bombadil]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

I take it as Argentina's government is aiming for a dictatorship, and decided that it would be handy to have Russian troops to kill their own citizens when the riots start. Sort of the reverse of Ukraine; The Argentinian government does in this case, welcome Russian occupation, because they are too far away to be annexed.

Can't tell if you are being serious or simply trolling.

Seriously though, a Russia base in Argentina doesn't even make sense for Russia itself. They don't have much interest in that part of the world. Argentina doesn't occupy a strategic location, nor does Russia have a huge trade with South American countries. There is no cultural or ideology alliances. Nothing. Why do they want to spend a huge sum of money each year to maintain a foreign base? Just to annoy the US?

More practically, it is very dangerous to set up a military base on a foreign land which is not in an alliance with you. How many times has the US soldiers got into trouble in Japan? Who is going to bail out the Russian soldiers if one or two of them get too "adventurous"? Even worse, setting up a base in a place where your influence can't reach is just asking for trouble. Hypothetically, say someone got killed, the Russians say he is a spy, and the US says it is just a tourist got lost. Now the US are driving their aircraft carrier down and demand an apology and the removal of the base. What are the Russians going to do in that case? Nothing, there is nothing they can do in such a scenario except to bend to the US's will.

So all in all, this whole thing make very little sense, which tells me that this is either something blown out of proportion (like selling of hardware which are accompanied by personal trainers, say), or downright false.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by Tom Bombadil

So all in all, this whole thing make very little sense, which tells me that this is either something blown out of proportion (like selling of hardware which are accompanied by personal trainers, say), or downright false.

Two months ago it made no sense for Russia to invade Ukraine. What we think makes sense or not has very little to do with reality.

Historians, in fact, spent their days trying to justify the silly shit countries end up doing all the time. Most of the justifications only sort of make sense after the dust cleared, and not when it is actually happening.

[risingstar3110]

*Conspiracy hat on*

Maybe Putin just created a little 'crisis' for the US to solve/work on, and win over public confidence over international issues. So they can save face and overlook Crimea's incident?

Something like "Yes, we let the Russian took over Crimea, but we totally prevented them from setting up military base in Argentina"

*Conspiracy hat off*

[Fireminer]

Yup, Vallen is as radical as usual!