The US and NATO have significantly stepped up military activity in the Black Sea in recent years, ratcheting up tensions with Russia. Despite the fact that this is a clear provocation aimed at Moscow, Western leaders act surprised when Russia reacts to their presence in the waters.
On Tuesday, US Navy Adm. Robert P. Burke, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples, said Russia was “increasing aggression” in the Black Sea. He accused Moscow of trying to “bully” its neighbors into believing that other nations don’t have the right to be in the Black Sea.
Burke’s framing makes it sound like the US and NATO are simply passing through the Black Sea. But the US and Ukraine just finished leading a 32-nation exercise in the waters, known as Sea Breeze 2021. The drills were much larger this year than previous ones. The last time they were held, 19 nations participated.
The Sea Breeze 2021 exercises concluded on July 10th, and only two days later, the US and NATO launched another exercise in the Black Sea. Similarly named, the Breeze exercises involved 14 NATO allies and partner countries, including Ukraine. The drills were held from July 12th to the 19th.
While Burke says Russia is “increasing aggression” in the region, Western powers are intentionally provoking Moscow. In June, the UK sailed its destroyer the HMS Defender 12 miles off the coast of Crimea, a reckless provocation that Russia responded to by firing warning shots.
It was revealed by classified British documents that were found at a bus stop that the UK intentionally sailed the warship so close to Crimea and knew the Russians would react strongly. A US spy plane was deployed when the Defender made the passage, likely to watch Russia’s reaction. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the US of coordinating the provocation with the British.
One strong piece of evidence against the presence of God is the persistent lack of Devine intervention, e.g., lightening, heart attack, stroke, etc., when someone spouts off such a blatant lie: “US Admiral Says Russia Is ‘Increasing Aggression’ in the Black Sea.”
Not only a lack of intervention but he/she/it seems to reward the most despicable amongst us with the best of possible lives.
Agreed! Voltaire was not known to believe in God, but he still thought God was definitely on the side of those who shoot best–regardless of justice.
The thing about the Black Sea is you can’t pass through it. You either come from it or go to it, and as the US doesn’t come from there they’re clearly going to it. To cause trouble.
What does come and go from the Black Sea are all the major rivers of Russia, like the Mississippi River system of the US.
How would the US react to hostile ships repeatedly demonstrating within 12 miles of New Orleans?
It’s ideological crap risking all of us to be exterminated.
It’s like a very bad Irish joke scenario directed by someone living in his Twilight years.
Keep pocking the Russian 🐻 mean time you should prepare yourself for for another Cuban missile type of crises,this time won’t be ending like Hollywood movies. Why I am presuming this! Well, Crimea end up in Russian territories without firing gun,and constant intimidating US war ships when they are on border with Russia, and US just do nothing.
What’s that tells you?
It is amazing — after over one thousand years of experience with Russia, West still does not get it. Russia allows their enemies to be bullies, observes their behavior and weaknesses, warns them honestly of their reaction. Waits patiently until the first exuberance of the opponent wears off, and prepares for defense. In the process, its domestic public opinion has time to understand reality, as there are always many pro-Western segments of population that would claim Russia’s reaction is paranoid.
And even in periods of dark times — Khazars, Mongols and Tatars, Turks, Swedes, Napoleon, Germans — there was an element of entrapment. Making enemy believe they are in control and become overconfident.
Look only at the Ukrainian crisis. From the time at the end of Cold War, when many Ukrainians believed that Soviet Union held them back and wanted to be members of European Union — to the sentiment today. Ukrainians voted for a charlatan who promised to normalize relations with Russia, just to find out exactly who he really is.
Today, regime is suppressing opposition, puts candidates in jail. Perfect way to change public opinion against their pro-US leadership. And as scum raises to power, gets rich, while population is DECIDEDLY poorer, while hundreds of thousands go to Russia to work an support families at home — vox populi is decidedly now against the regime that Maidan coup ushered. Couple that with an entirely different Crimea — economically growing, integrated into Russian economy. Tatars are infinitely better of, as Republic of Tatarstan is industrial powerhouse, and Tatar language is one of the official languages. Schools and Universities give young a future. They had no future in Ukraine.
This is why there is such a mad rush to tie Ukraine to Western military, as public opinion is lost.
To be fair, I suspect that Ukraine’s American masters did not give Zelenskii a choice.
After all, Poroshenko was also elected as a relative moderate, then immediately morphed into “Bloody Petya” following his election.
For that matter, the US Ambassador more or less openly campaigned for Poroshenko against Zelenskii in 2019. This probably because he didn’t want to have to bully and bribe another puppet when he had a perfectly compliant one already in his pocket.
Don’t you know that Americans just can’t be happy without fighting Wars in every corner of this Planet ????
US/NATO needs to change it’s behavior.