(CNN)Russia plans to expand its supply base in the Syrian port city of Tartus into a permanent naval base, Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov said on Monday, according to state news agency TASS.
“In Syria, we will have a permanent naval base in Tartus. The corresponding documents have been drafted. Currently they are in the process of inter-departmental coordination,” said Pankov, during a meeting of Russia’s Federation Council’s international affairs committee.
“The degree of readiness is rather high,” he said, adding that he hoped to ask the committee to ratify the move soon.
