International
Security
Russia
to counteract NATO's boosted presence in Black Sea – envoy
Published time: December 26, 2014 17:38
The
USS Destroyer Donald Cook. (AFP Photo / Petrut Calinescu)
Moscow
is being forced to come up with countermeasures in response to NATO's increased
presence in the Black Sea, Russia’s envoy to the alliance said following an
announcement on the arrival of another US warship in the area.
“Unfortunately, the Black Sea is becoming
a place where non-regional powers have a permanent presence. What they are
doing there is unclear,” Aleksandr Grushko said.
“Of course, we will take the necessary
countermeasures,” he continued.
Grushko
also criticized the North Atlantic Alliance for stationing high alert forces
near Russia's borders by holding frequent military drills with counties
including Poland and the Baltic states.
Russia’s
new military doctrine, adopted on December 26, stresses that the country’s army
remains a defensive tool, but lists NATO's military buildup and the United
States' Prompt Global Strike concept as main security threats.
USS
Donald Cook.(Reuters / Bogdan Cristel)
The
USS Donald Cook is scheduled to boost NATO's fleet in the Black Sea on Friday.
“Donald Cook's presence in the Black Sea
is meant to reassure and at the same time demonstrate our commitment to work
closely with NATO allies in order to enhance maritime security," Cmdr. Charles
Hampton, the ship's commanding officer, said in a statement.
This
is the second time the USS Donald Cook has entered the Black Sea since the
start of the Ukraine crisis which began in spring 2014.
The
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer was previously stationed in the
area in April.
Russia's
President Vladimir Putin (R) reviews ships of Russian Black Sea fleet during a
visit to the Crimean port of Sevastopol on May 9, 2014.(AFP Photo / Alexey
Druzhinin)
NATO
sent additional ships to the Black Sea after Russia’s reunification with the
Republic of Crimea in March.
The
USS Vella Gulf, USS Ross, USS Truxton, and the USS Taylor – as well as warships
from other NATO member states – were spotted in the area.
In
July, NATO deployed a total of nine vessels to the Back Sea, setting a record
in the post-Soviet period.
Despite
the Montreux Convention of 1936 allowing warships of non-Black Sea states to
stay in the area for no more than 21 days, the alliance has managed to secure
its presence by constantly rotating vessels.
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