NATO’s military arm, Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium (marking its 70th anniversary this year), issued a press release on the Sea Breeze war games that will begin in the Black Sea on June 28. Coming as they do immediately on the heels on what may have proven a dangerous contretemps between a British guided-missile destroyer and a Russian border vessel and attack aircraft off the coast of Crimea, this year’s Sea Breeze, the 25th iteration, is fraught with more significance and will be monitored more closely on the Russian side than its predecessors.
The NATO fact sheet repeats what has been disclosed by the co-sponsor of the exercise, the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet, and other sources:
– That over 30 (32 by one count) nations will participate in the event, more than in any previous version
– That those nations are situated on all six populated continents
– That 5,000 troops, 32 ships, 40 aircraft and 18 special operations and diving units will be involved
The Ukrainian navy is the co-host of the exercise; only three months after its current and first president were openly claiming there was a danger of world war as a result of Russian military maneuvers – in Russia.
The NATO release of June 25 contains a paragraph that could not be more transparent in disclosing the geopolitical context within which the upcoming war games are to be conducted:
“Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO has increased its presence in the Black Sea. NATO supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. NATO does not and will not recognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea and denounces its temporary occupation.”
After the encounter between HMS Defender and a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 earlier this week, the Russian government appealed to the U.S., Ukraine and NATO to postpone if not cancel this year’s Sea Breeze. It appears that plea has fallen on deaf ears.
Though the expression has often been used in the past, the world may be ready to witness a Sarajevo moment.
Rick Rozoff is a contributing editor at Antiwar.com. He has been involved in anti-war and anti-interventionist work in various capacities for forty years. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. He is the manager of Stop NATO. This originally appeared at Anti-Bellum.
There is no doubt that the US ordered the English to provoke Russia, their obsession and hatred of anything Russian makes them the perfect attack dog for these kinds of operations. . What surprised them was the swiftness of Russia’s harsh response or that they responded at all and that is surprising in itself.
It shows that the amnesia after 08.08.08 in Georgia has already kicked in. In that short but deadly war US ordered the Georgians to kill a number of Russian peace keepers and thousands of civilians in two major cities. Convinced, as they were, that Russia would do nothing. Russia rolled in, destroyed the US- buildt Georgian forces, a number CIA agents and “advisors” among them, their army and navy and 2 Israeli bases but stopped short of the capital and left after the job was done.
According to the USs and NATO’s own wargames no matter how many times they manipulate the parameters, Russia can take on and finish both US and NATO combined both nuclear and more importantly, conventionally. Especially in Russia’s own bathtub, the Black Sea. It looks like the Ziocons are desperate for a major war and don’t care about the odds.
I am not sure the US ordered the English to provoke Russia. Just like the Skripal poisoning, Britain steers the US back to war with Russia whenever the US appears not as committed to aggression toward Russia.
Agreed.
There are theories that forces much more powerful than elected politicians control both the US and UK. It is possible the puppet master of both countries ordered the stunt and the US has a different, and so far unknown, role in this affair.
“Since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014”
NATO likes to start history at whatever point is most convenient. Similar to the US. Never mind about the coup.
Or the shelling in Donbass.
Much like the global warming fanatics.
No doubt. Along with the deniers.
The terms “science deniers” and “flat earthers” have been used to attack people who question the “Global Warming” religion. I am an environmentalist who shot down a hazardous waste burning facility. Please let’s talk after you review Wikileaks documents: https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/40/404797_climate-assortment-of-statements-from-east-anglia-.html
I didn’t use either of those terms. I’m talking about people who claim there is NOTHING happening and not whether it’s by “human activities”. I compare the people who claim man is responsible to those who say the great sky fairy controls the climate. My point is that it has been politicized. I personally don’t know why the temperature seems to always be 20 degrees below or above normal or why there are so many droughts and such an uptick on severe weather. This is why I steer clear of these conversations and speak out against both sides. Did you not see my “no doubt” response to lordbaldric comment about “global warming fanatics”?
Thanks for the clarification. I did notice the “no doubt.”. I apologize for my over-reaction. Our Antiwar brother, lordbaldric, was courageous to say what he did given the charged nature of this discussion. I admit that I get triggered when people use the words “deniers,” “the debate is over,” etc. It hurts particularly when it comes from critical thinkers who seem otherwise perfectly able to recognize lies and fear propaganda. Again, I apologize for my overreaction.
I attack the “Global Warming” promoters/politicians because they are the same people who promote endless wars.
I wish “starting history at whatever point is most convenient” is the only deception they attempt. They go back and remove temperature readings and research that inconveniently discredit “Global Warming.” When “Global Warming” does not happen according to their fearmongering models, they change the name to “Climate Change.” Why? Because the climate changes and now they can blame “extreme weather” on human activities. See Wikileaks documents:
https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/40/404797_climate-assortment-of-statements-from-east-anglia-.html
US doesn’t need NATO but pays for the defense of Europe? US taxpayers F**KED again? Same with UN?
In terms of provocation, this would be like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea sailing through the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes and conducting exercises.
Gulf of Mexico anyone?
I got a thousand dollars that says Russia would kick their weak little 4ss’s in short order. The Russian people are some of the toughest on the planet, and know how to make do, and win at all cost.
In light of the US expertise, I do not think Russia is too worried.
This requires Russia to create a land corridor betweer Donetsk and Russian Crimea. Kiev be damned.
War will entail Formosa and Israel.
Bring it on.
Billy Bragg-
“The cities of Europe have burned before
They may yet burn again.
If they do you’d better understand
Washington will burn with them.”
Remember Pentagon could not even defend itself from a ‘passenger plane’.
Oh, you say that incident was self-inflicted.
…..do tell.
Yeah, the U.S. had 45 minutes warning that a hijacked plane was headed to D.C. after two had struck the Wored Trade Center. The plane was flying at 400 MPH. They did not get the plane.. What would they do if a Russian hypersonic missile was coming in at Mac 4 or 6 and had 8 or 15 minutes to intercept it…??????
There were U.S. aircraft in the vicinity of the airliner that went down after a “heroic battle”. We shot the thing down before it got to its destination.
“…a Sarajevo moment.”
All it takes is one stupid commander high on the cool-aid.
Is Biden up to such a challenge? Sure makes me wonder!!!!
I give aw.com many thanks for bringing Rick Rozoff and his keen insights and experience on all things NATO, onboard to keep our antiwar readership up to date on this martial bureaucracacy and it’s intemporant propaganda and edicts. One only need look at recent encounters where it’s mission creep or crazy over reactions in Afghanistan ànd Libya have shown just how dangerous it has becum. Does ANY rational person think Afghanistan attacked anyone on nine 11? That the victim of the Obama onslaught on Libya by NATO was due to an attack on ANY of the NATO members? Why did NATO get involved in that regime change attack on Libya…???? Why. Why, Why….. The only attack was on Libya by the U.S. & the NATO Gnomes.
Its one thing when NATO targets some weak non nuclear bomb state like Afghanistan or Lybia with what would, in all fairness, be an unprovoked attack. But to target Russia or China or another well armed thermonuclear armed state endangers LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, and is devoid oF balanced or rational thinking and SUICIDAL to a very alarming degree. Do the comfortable con men there at the headquarters in Belgium not realize how their mindless brain dead provocations could start a chain of events in an escallating cycle of rancor stupidity and miscalculation which could kill half of the people in the world???????? WHAT ARE THEY THINKING???? OR DO THEY EVEN CARE ABOUT THE DANGER?????? OR JUST THEIR FAT PAYCHECKS???????
http://thesaker.is/article-by-sergey-lavrov-russian-minister-of-foreign-affairs-the-law-the-rights-and-the-rules-moscow-june-28-2021/
The Law, the Rights, and the Rules. Written by Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.