Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang announced on July 27 that Russia would be building a ship maintenance base at the port of Cam Ranh Bay . . . Sang denied that the port would become a Russian military base . . . however, Sang did indicate that the ship maintenance base would serve to enhance “military cooperation” between the two nations . . . Russia used to operate a naval base in Cam Ranh Bay but abandoned the site in 2002 due to budgetary constraints . . . Russia currently operates a navy base in Tartus, Syria and is seeking to expand its reach given the volatility in Syria. . . it is said to be having ongoing discussion about potentially establishing maintenance stations for it navy in Djibouti, Cuba and in the Seychelles . . . US Defense Secretary Panetta visited Cam Ranh Bay in June seeking to gain access to the deep water port to support the US navy’s “strategic pivot” . . . Vietnam is attempting to appease both Moscow and Washington but will satisfy neither by allowing supposed equal access to competing navies . . . even so, Sang’s announcement indicates the seriousness of Russian naval aspirations . . . this also demonstrates that Russia’s continued military buildup is not only focused on domestic procurement but on developing the logistical support apparatus to field a global navy.