Are Russia And NATO Positioning Themselves For A Clash In The Black Sea?

M.K. Bhadrakumar, Zero Hedge/RPI/Indian Punchline: Russia, NATO Positioned For Clash Over Black Sea Amid Putin's 'Blockade' On Ukraine 

The NATO Summit in Vilnius (July 11-12) signaled that there is absolutely no possibility of talks to settle the Ukraine war in a foreseeable future. The war will only intensify, as the US and its allies still hope to inflict a military defeat on Russia although that is clearly beyond their capability. 

On July 14, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of US joint chiefs of staff said that Ukraine’s counteroffensive is “far from a failure” but the fight ahead will be “long” and “bloody”. Milley has a reputation for speaking what the White House wants to hear, no matter his professional judgment.  

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WNU Editor: A Black Sea confrontation against Russia is a fight that NATO cannot win.

Another NATO Ship In The Black Sea Intercepted By Russian Military Forces When It Changed Course Towards Russian Waters

 

RT: WATCH: Dutch navy ship intercepted by jets after turn towards Russian waters, Moscow says – Amsterdam blasts ‘dangerous’ flyover  

Fighter planes and bomber jets were dispatched to follow a Dutch naval vessel only after it changed direction towards Russian waters, defense officials in Moscow said on Tuesday, amid a growing diplomatic spat over the incident. 

The frigate Evertsen was on course to violate the Russian border in the Black Sea, but was prevented from doing so by Russian jets flying at a safe distance from the vessel, Moscow claimed, in response to Amsterdam’s complaints. 

The incident occurred on June 24, just a day after the British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender violated Russian territorial waters off Crimea’s Cape Fiolent and was warned off by jets and a coast guard vessel.  

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WNU Editor: According to the Russian Ministry of Defense .... While sailing in neutral waters, the HNLMS Evertsen “changed its course and began to move in the direction of the Kerch Strait.” 

The bridge that straddles the Kerch Strait is Crimea's lifeline to Russia and is considered by Moscow to be strategic asset to be protected at all costs. If this Dutch frigate had ignored Russian warnings and had decided to enter Russian waters and continue with its course to the Strait, I am 100% certain that the Kremlin would have ordered its forces to fire on this ship. 

More News On Another NATO Ship In The Black Sea Being Intercepted By Russian Military Forces When It Changed Course Towards Russian Waters  

Russia scrambled military planes to prevent border violation by Dutch frigate -- TASS  

Russian Jets Armed With Anti-Ship Missiles “Harassed” Dutch Frigate In The Black Sea -- Warzone/The Drive  

Dutch Say Russian Jets Buzzed Warship in Black Sea -- Moscow Times/AFP  

Russian fighter jets harassed a Dutch frigate in the Black Sea for hours and carried out mock attacks, defense ministry says -- Business Insider

Are U.S. And Russia On A Collision Course In The Black Sea?

Russian Navy shadows U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Black Sea. State Border Guard Service of Ukraine courtesy photo  

James Stavridis, Seattle Times: U.S. and Russia are on a collision course in the Black Sea 

Ukrainians breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would withdraw the majority of more than 100,000 troops that had been shifted to the Russian-Ukrainian border. 

So did the U.S., NATO and the rest of Europe. But nobody should be breathing easy: Putin isn’t one to stay on the retreat. So, where should we expect his next provocation? Very likely, the waters of the Black Sea.  

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WNU Editor: If there is a "collision" in the Black Sea, NATO will be completely outgunned. 

There is currently a major NATO exercise taking place in the Black Sea .... NATO Allies Take Over Black Sea for Military Exercise (Antiwar.com). And yes. The Russian Navy knows what is happening .... Russian Navy shadows U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Black Sea (Defence-Blog).

U.S. Cancels Its Deployment Of Warships To The Black Sea

U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) sets sail in the Bosphorus, returning from the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey Oct. 2, 2020. (Reuters File Photo)  

Daily Sabah: US warships retreat from Black Sea amid Russia-Ukraine tensions 

U.S. warships destined for the Black Sea have turned back amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic sources said Wednesday. 

The sources noted that the U.S. Embassy had informed Turkish authorities about the matter. The warships are currently anchored off the island of Crete, the most populous Greek island.  

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Update #1: U.S. cancels warships deployment to Black Sea -Turkish diplomatic sources (Reuters) Update #2: US Notifies Turkey of Cancellation of Passage of 2 Warships Through Bosphorus, Turkish Source Says (Sputnik)  

WNU Editor: The Biden administration has just blinked.

U.S. Navy Makes Preparations To Sail Warship Into Black Sea

Reuters

CNN: US makes preparations to sail warship into Black Sea amid Russia-Ukraine tensions

Washington (CNN)The US has begun making the necessary preparations to sail a warship into the Black Sea, a move that comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Russia's seizure of Ukrainian ships and detention of Ukrainian sailors.

The US military has requested that the State Department notify Turkey of its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea, three US officials tell CNN, a move they said is a response to Russia's actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday that its troops in eastern Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014, conducted a military drill with its Pantsir anti-aircraft missile systems.

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WNU Editor: Here is the current U.S. military footprint in the Black Sea .... Here’s the US military footprint in the Black Sea region (Military Times).

More News On Reports That The U.S. Navy Is Making Preparations To Sail A Warship Into The Black Sea

U.S. Moves to Defy Russia Through Navy Operation -- US News and World Report
US prepares to sail warship into Black Sea amid Ukraine-Russia clash near Crimea -- The Independent
US May Send Warship to Black Sea Amid Kerch Strait Tensions - Reports -- The Independent

Russia Calls U.S. Black Sea Patrols A Threat

© AFP 2017/ DANIEL MIHAILESCU

Sputnik: Russian Gen Staff Sees US Patrol in Black Sea as Potential Security Threat

US patrol in the Black Sea area presents potential threat to the security of the Russian Federation, because it's not clear what rockets are on the ships, the head of the Russian General Staff said Tuesday.

Uncertainty over what type of weapons are loaded onto the United States' Navy ships patrolling the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea pose a potential threat to Russia, the Russian General Staff's deputy chief said Tuesday.

"Ballistic missile defense ships patrolling the Black and Baltic seas are a threat to the facilities of the European part of Russia because there is uncertainty over which weapons are currently loaded onto launchers: interceptor missiles or cruise missiles," Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir said.

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Update: Russia and NATO square-off over Black Sea tensions (News.com.au)

WNU Editor: This is why the Russian military are concerned about this US Navy deployment .... Top Russian military brass warns US missile defense ships in Black and Baltic seas can hit Russia (TASS)

Update #2: NATO fighter jets are also being deployed .... Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby to counter Russia threat over Black Sea (SKY News). More here .... RAF Typhoon jets to be deployed to Romania to help combat Russian aggression in the Black Sea (The Independent)

NATO's Buildup In The Black Sea Is Raising Concerns In Moscow

USS Donald Cook.(Reuters / Bogdan Cristel)

Russia To Counteract NATO's Boosted Presence In Black Sea – Envoy -- RT

Moscow is being forced to come up with countermeasures in response to NATO's increased presence in the Black Sea, Russia’s envoy to the alliance said following an announcement on the arrival of another US warship in the area.

“Unfortunately, the Black Sea is becoming a place where non-regional powers have a permanent presence. What they are doing there is unclear,” Aleksandr Grushko said.

“Of course, we will take the necessary countermeasures,” he continued.

Grushko also criticized the North Atlantic Alliance for stationing high alert forces near Russia's borders by holding frequent military drills with counties including Poland and the Baltic states.

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Update #1: USS Donald Cook to enter Black Sea -- Sofia Globe
Update #2: Russian Navy to Focus Strategy on Arctic Zone and Black Sea -- Newsweek

My Comment: Expect a lot more buzzing from Russian jets .... Did A Russian Fighter Jet Buzz A U.S. Destroyer And Successfully Disabled Its Radar And Defense Systems?

U.S. Increasing It's Military Presence In The Black Sea

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel addresses a joint media briefing with Romania's Defense Minister Mircea Dusa (not pictured) in the Black Sea port of Constanta June 5, 2014.

US To Boost Black Sea Presence Over Crimea -- Voice of America/Reuters

CONSTANTA, ROMANIA — The United States will strengthen its presence in the Black Sea region using part of a $1 billion fund promised to NATO allies on Russia's borders, and will continue to send warships to the area, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Romania on Thursday.

Hagel is the latest high-ranking American official to visit Europe since Russia's annexation of Crimea, as Washington looks to reassure allies jittery about Moscow's intentions in its former Cold War backyard.

The tour coincides with a visit by President Barack Obama to Poland this week, when he promised to increase military support for eastern European NATO members, including a $1 billion fund to support and train the armed forces of NATO states.

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U.S. Increasing It's Military Presence In The Black Sea

More jets and warships: US increasing military presence in Black Sea -- RT
US Secretary of Defense Hagel in Romania; announces stronger Black Sea naval presence -- Deutsche Welle
Chuck Hagel Visits Romania, Promises More US Military in Black Sea -- Breitbart
Hagel Visits U.S. Warship in Black Sea at ‘Troubling Time’ -- Defense One
Defense Secretary visits Romania, says U.S. will maintain a regular naval presence in the Black Sea -- Romania Insider

My Comment: The Russians will see this as a provocation .... and I expect them to do something in response .... but only after Putin has left the D-Day celebrations in France.

A U.S. Military Buildup In The Black Sea?

The US Navy destroyer "USS Truxtun" enters the Black Sea port (AFP Photo / Anton Stoyanov)

U.S. Mulls Sending Warship To Black Sea In Ukraine Response -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The top U.S. general in Europe is looking at options including moving a U.S. warship to the Black Sea and bolstering scheduled NATO exercises in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea, a U.S. defense official told Reuters on Tuesday.

A small team of about 10 soldiers from an Army brigade could also head to Europe "very soon" to better prepare for a larger scheduled deployment this summer as part of a NATO response force.

"This brigade combat team was already scheduled to be part of the NATO response force going this summer. And we're just looking ... at ways that we can improve their deployment even more," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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More News On The U.S. Military Buildup In The Black Sea

US may move warship into Black Sea -- AP
U.S. seeks to boost troops in Romania amid Crimea crisis -- Reuters
Romania: U.S. wants more troops at Black Sea base -- Navy Times
US seeks to boost troops at Black Sea base: Romania -- Press TV (Iran)
U.S. Increases Troops at Afghan Transit Base in Romania -- Naharnet
US to boost troops at Romania airbase increasing NATO's military presence in Eastern Europe -- Voice of Russia

Russia Considers Opening Black Sea Fleet Base In Abkhazia

From RIA Novosti:

MOSCOW, November 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is considering opening a base for its Black Sea Fleet in Abkhazia, a lawmaker and former fleet commander said on Thursday.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet uses a range of naval facilities in Ukraine's Crimea as part of a 1997 agreement, under which Ukraine agreed to lease the bases to Russia until 2017.

Vladimir Komoyedov, a Communist Party lawmaker, took part in a parliamentary defense committee meeting on the Armed Forces' development up to 2020.

Asked about the possibility of creating a base at Ochamchira, a seaside town in the separatist Georgian republic recognized by Russia as independent, Komoyedov said: "The issue concerning Abkhazia is under consideration."

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko announced in the summer that Ukraine would not extend the lease of the base in the Crimean city of Sevastopol beyond 2017, and urged the Russian fleet to start preparations for a withdrawal.

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My Comment: One more reason for the Georgian's to get angry with the Russians.