NOVOROSSIYSK Russia (Reuters) - Russia will increase its Black Sea fleet with more than 80 new warships by 2020 and will complete a second naval base for the fleet near the city of Novorossiysk by 2016, its commander said on Tuesday.
In comments made to President Vladimir Putin as he visited the port city, Vice Admiral Alexander Vitko said a second Black Sea base was needed in addition to the main base on the Crimea peninsula annexed from Ukraine because of NATO expansion.
"Eighty ships and other vessels are expected to arrive (in Novorossiysk) before 2020. The Black Sea Fleet will have 206 ships and vessels by 2020," Vitko told Putin.
"NATO ships are constantly present in the Black Sea and it plans to establish a naval base in the Black Sea," he added.
President obama countered this announcement with one of his own, "When funds are available, and I am trying to get those now, the United States Navy is going to establish a new canoe livery on Coney Island."