US Admiral: Russia Navy More Active in Europe Than During Cold War

Complains of 'Unprofessional' Russian Fly-Bys of US Ships

A top NATO commander in Europe, US Admiral Michelle Howard is the last official to play up the “threat” posed by Russia, insisting that despite having a much smaller navy now than during the Cold War, Russia’s Navy is more active in Europe now than they were back in the Soviet era.

Admiral Howard went on to rail about the usual list of Pentagon complaints about Russia, accusing hem of “unprofessional” behavior for having their planes fly by US warships deployed in Europe, and accusing them of growing cyber-attacks against NATO members.

That Russia’s Navy is more active in Europe is undeniable, of course, but Howard’s comments totally lack context, as at no point during the Cold War did NATO have a large “spearhead” force deployed directly along the Russian border. The US has been increasing its military presence along Russia’s border for several years now, while claiming Russia might “invade” NATO lands.

Howard continued to play up the idea that NATO needs to stay united in building up a force against Russia, warning that Russia’s deployments risk leaving NATO nations focused on the importance of their own immediate vicinities while faiing to continue the overall buildup.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.