US Vice Admiral Andrew Lewis, the head of the Navy’s 2nd Fleet, made comments at the CSIS think tank on Tuesday, reporting that the recent presence of Russian submarines off the US East Coast means that he can no longer consider the coastal area “uncontested.”
Admiral Lewis went on to say that it is no longer the case that the waters off America’s Atlantic Coast could be considered a “safe haven” for US ships or submarines. He added ships are in “contested space once they leave Norfolk” and should no longer expect to cross the Atlantic “unhindered.”
A Russian submarine was reported off the coast of the US late last year, and Russian intelligence ships have at times been in the vicinity. There haven’t been any confrontations, however.
Russia has a fleet of submarines, as a large naval power, but they aren’t exactly swarming around the US East Coast. Moreover, the US is no stranger to leaving its own submarines, and surface warships, looming around the Russian coast and other Russian spheres of influence.
Suggesting those areas are “contested” in anything but the most nominal way is a vast overstating of the situation. Intelligence gathering by both navies is common, and not a direct military challenge.
That Admiral Lewis is vastly overstating the matter is hardly surprising, however, as the 2nd Fleet was established specifically for the Atlantic, and because of Russia’s Navy being there. Lewis’s job is effectively to play up Russia’s threat in his theater of operation, which is literally the only putative challenge faced in the Atlantic.
Whenever I read “Russia” I read it like Scott says it, Rrrrussia, HA
Speaking of Scotts — one of the independence grievances is the presence of American subs at their bases and nuclear pollution it brings.
Besides ability to pronounce R properly, all northern cultures share many things in common. The migrations of Nordic people — including Russians — until today shows in so many ways. The first ruler to unite Russia from Black Sea to Baltic, Prince Vladimir, had his relations in Norway, where he spent some time during a spot of bother with his brother. The cultural transmission belt took the Christian ideas of St. Andrew who preached in region of Kiev, all the way to the North of Russia, and with many migrations of Nordic peoples all the way to the East Coast of Scotland.
Scots stories of originating from Skits, clans living in Southern Russia — is summarily dismisses by historians. Yet, St. Andrew cross is the flag of Scotland, as is for centuries and until today, the flag of Russian navy.
I walked parts of pilgrim trail along the coast of Fife and the town of St.Andrews. There, one can see prominently displayed Vatican version of St. Andrew tradition. A monk saved bones of St. Andrew from being burned by Byzantines. And brought them to this remote place on Scotland’s North Sea Coast.
While it is not likely that the Christian empire would have burned Christian saint’s bones, the story is very typical of Vatican’s efforts to spread Catholicism. Giving ancient beliefs a substance and thereby legitimizing Vatican primacy.
This is one among many examples of how political centers of gravity pull apart and sever cultural ties. Be that British or American centers of gravity — Nordic cultures languish. Having much more in common with each other, they are now communicating through new vehicles of EU or NATO. And Rusland has been excommunicated.
He has to scream R U S S I A — as he is getting low yield nuclear sub! A real question for the Admiral is — will this sub stay in the Atlantic to protect us from the menace? I bet it is already sailing where the rest of them are — in the view of Russian shoreline in the north.
Did the good admiral define what “safe” means in a world when the nuclear clock is set at less than two minutes to midnight, mostly due to policies advocated by people like him?
Eh, jes something to pad his post-government resume.
Sad, pathetic, desperate losers infest our entire military command. Peace to them would be worse than losing their entire family in a fire.
This guy sounds like Adam Schiff.
Sounds like typical American hypocrisy. We can do stuff but other people can’t.