Russia took another step to position itself as a broker in the ongoing Syrian crisis by sending flotilla of 11 warships into the Mediterranean Sea for maneuvers.

Russia said yesterday that it had dispatched a fleet of navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean, some of which would dock in Syria . It would be the largest display of Russian military power in the region since the Syrian conflict began almost seventeen months ago. Nearly half of the ships were capable of carrying hundreds of marines.

Russia insists the maneuvers are unrelated to the conflict in Syria, but some Middle East observers believe the move is being made to send a message that Moscow wants plans to protect its interests in the country.

Syria is Russia’s most important relationship in the region, and the coastal city of Tartus is home to a Russian naval fueling station.  Russia also has important pipeline and telecommunications interests in Syria.

Russia warships sail to Syria / Russian destroyer ‘ Admiral Chabanenko ‘ took course to the Middle East, Syria

The announcement appeared intended to accent Russia’s effort to position itself as an increasingly decisive broker in resolving the antigovernment uprising in Syria, Russia’s last ally in the Middle East and home to Tartus, its only foreign military base outside the Russia. The notification also came a day after Russia said it was halting new shipments of weapons to the Syrian military until the conflict settled down.

Russia has occasionally sent naval vessels on maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean, and it dispatched an aircraft-carrying battleship, the Admiral Kuznetsov, there for maneuvers with a few other vessels from December 2011 to February this year. There were rumors in recent weeks that the Russians planned to deploy another naval force near Syria.

But the unusually large size of the force was considered a message, not just to the region but also to the US and other nations supporting the rebels now trying to depose Syria’s president Bashar Hafez al-Assad.

A flotilla of Russian Navy ships set sail for the Mediterranean

The warships set sail the day after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin accused the West of ‘ missile bomb democracy. ‘ In a key policy speech to top Russian diplomats gathered in Moscow, Vladimir Putin accused the West of using deception to gain political advantage.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s hardline rhetoric came as Syrian opposition groups have come to Moscow to lobby the Kremlin to stop supporting Syria’s President Bashar Hafez al-Assad.

Basma Kodmani – a member of the executive bureau of the Syrian National Council, appealed to Russia to help Syrians turn the page and switch to a new democratic system. She said that the Kremlin and Syria’s opposition share common ground – a fear of chaos, anarchy and religious radicalism.

Russian convoy with Russian ‘ Admiral Chabanenko ‘ arrives to the Eastern Mediterranean, Syria

While the Kremlin has repeatedly opposed foreign military intervention in Syria, Russian military officials have hinted at a possible role in Syria for their naval power. The warships have been presented as a means either to evacuate Russian citizens or to secure the fueling station at Tartus.

The Russian announcement got a muted response in Washington. Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council said : ‘ Russia maintains a naval supply and maintenance base in the Syrian port of Tartus. We currently have no reason to believe this move is anything out of the ordinary, but we refer you to the Russian government for more details. ‘