The US Navy has three warships operating in the Black Sea, a region where NATO is looking to increase its naval presence.
The USS Porter, a guided-missile destroyer, entered the waters on Thursday, joining two US ships that were already there. The USS Donald Cook, another guided-missile destroyer, and the oiler USNS Laramie transited into the Black Sea on Sunday.
Russia noticed the US warships operating near its coast and deployed a mobile coastal defense anti-ship system in Crimea. The Russian military said it tracked the USS Donald Cook as it entered the Black Sea.
Russia hawks and NATO are hoping the US keeps up the military activity in the Black Sea this year.
According to Stars and Stripes, the US Navy spent 82 days in the Black Sea in 2020, down 19 days from the previous year.
While the US and Russia reached an agreement on extending New START, the vital nuclear treaty, the Biden administration is maintaining a hostile stance towards Moscow, and more US-NATO military cooperation is expected.
They make good targets because there’s nowhere to hide.
The transit of warships into the Black Sea is governed by the Montreux Convention, administered by Turkey.
>Article 10. In time of peace, light surface vessels, minor war vessels and auxiliary vessels, whether belonging to Black Sea or non-Black Sea Powers, and whatever their flag, shall enjoy freedom of transit through the Straits.
>Article 18.(i) The aggregate tonnage which non-Black Sea Powers may have in that sea in time of peace shall be limited as follows :(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the aggregate tonnage of the said Powers shall not exceed 30,000 tons
>Note: The US Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers have a full load displacement of 8,300+ tons, so three’s the limit.
Exactly. There are also limits on the concurrent numbers of military vessels belonging to non-Black Sea countries.
Turkey has been administering the Convention so far correctly.
US suggested to Turkey a plan to cut another canal, bypassing Bosphorus.
Not likely.
Turkey has been building an image of the defender of Islamic world. Consistent in supporting Palestinian rights, and with tradition of older, tolerant Sunni religion compared to Wahhabi cult of hate towards Shiism — is consistently gaining popularity in Muslim world. As one Arabic media puts it, Erdogan walks like a Colossus on Arab street.
By partnering with Iran and Russia on Syrian process, Turkey has received support by Russia and China, in turn, Turkey supports Russia on Tatar issue in Crimea, and China on Uyghur issues.
Turkey has bases in Syria, Iraq, Qatar Libya and now Somalia. The latest Russia-Turkey gambit in Armenia-Azerbaijan war, resulted in joint Russia-Turkey military center in Azerbaijan, Russian military control of two corridors, the second one connecting Azerbaijan’s exclave, but also opening land corridor for Turkey all the way to Caspian and beyond.
If we consider major shifts in addressing Kurdish issues — Turkey has every reason to continue its Russia-China Eurasian integration, and no reason to pursue Euro-Atlantic orientation.
This show of force is more to intimidate Turkey then Russia.
Please see Six-year war cycle: U.S. steps up deployment of warships to Black Sea
https://antibellum679354512.wordpress.com/2021/01/29/six-year-war-cycle-u-s-steps-up-deployment-of-warships-to-black-sea/
USS Whale, USS Broadside of Barn & USS Target
reporting for duty, sir!
…from The Moscow Times
Russia Stages Black Sea Warship Drills Amid U.S. Destroyer Presence
I wonder if there will be a repeat of what the Russian jets did to the U.S.S. Donald Cook?
voltairenet.com/article185860.html
Ooops! Looks like the internet won’t let the article come up. Try Googling “U.S.S. Donald Cook buzzed by Russian jets that knock out ship’s electronics.”