Washington, April 8: The Soviet Union is reported to be stockpiling long-range guided missiles at the Russian naval base located in the horn of Africa, in Berbera, Somalia. The missiles are said to be intended for the dozen or more surface and submarine vessels that the Soviet Union reportedly maintains in the North Arabian Sea, not far from the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Pentagon officials, who have disclosed this information to a defence analyst of The New York Times, believe that the missiles, which have a range of 200 to 700 miles, could be used by the Soviet Union to control the exit from the Persian Gulf and the entrance to the Red Sea in the event of another international crisis, in the wake of another war between the Arabs and the Israelis.
The Soviet Union, together with the pro-Soviet Governments in Iraq and Southern Yemen, the U.S. Defence Department officials are said to believe, could use their forces to blockade Israel, by preventing Iran or any other oil country in the region from suppling oil to Israel, in the event of another West Asian conflict.
They also speculate that if another war produces another oil embargo, as they think it will, the Soviet naval forces in the region would have the capability to prevent any oil nation like Iran or Saudi Arabia from breaking the embargo.
These same U.S. officials are stated to be highly critical of Washington’s new policy (reportedly in effect since the U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger’s last round of shuttle diplomacy in West Asia failed) of withholding new weapons, like the Lance missiles (which can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads) and the ultra-modern Eagle fighter plane, from Israel in an attempt to pressure Israel into resuming indirect negotiations with Egypt.
Published – April 09, 2025 03:48 am IST
