Two former Cold War allies will allow Russia to set up military naval bases on their territories.

      Russia currently has only one foreign military base outside the former Soviet Union – in Tartus, Syria. But officials say the base is little more than a re-fuelling stop for Russian warships.

      Besides bases in Cuba and Vietnam, Russia is now negotiating the establishment of Russian forces in the Indian Ocean island country of the Seychelles, Russia's Navy Chief Vice-Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Friday.

      “We are indeed continuing work to ensure the stationing of Russian Navy forces outside the Russian Federation,”he said.

      Vietnam's president Truong Tan Sang said in an interview that his country would allow Russia to set up a ship maintenance base at its port of Cam Ranh, but only for developing “military co-operation” between two countries.

      However, many specialists are sure that it is not possible to compare Russia's naval bases with the Soviet Union's, as Russian current military might is much weaker. Moreover, Russia will have to spend significant material sources for developing its foreign bases, which could better be spent for modernizing Russia's naval forces.