The Black Sea Fleet will train on the Americans
The American guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) entered the Black Sea.
This was reported by the press service of the US Navy, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The US Navy blog noted that the visit was carried out to “support” Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria and Romania.
“To conduct maritime security operations and enhance stability in the region, maintaining the joint readiness and naval capabilities of NATO allies and partners in the region,” the US Navy added.
It is also reported that the USS Porter previously visited the Barents Sea, and it is visiting the Black Sea region for the second time this year. It is also known about it that on April 7, 2017, the ship launched a missile attack on an airbase of Syrian troops.
“Porter’s presence in the Black Sea is key to building a safe maritime environment and ensuring freedom of navigation,” said the ship’s commander, Craig Trent.
For Russia, in particular Crimea, the entry of an American destroyer is not unexpected and provides a good opportunity for sailors of the Black Sea Fleet to train.
This was stated to PolitNavigator by the executive director of the Institute of CIS Countries in Sevastopol, captain of the 1st rank in the reserve, Sergei Gorbachev.
“In accordance with today's realities, this is normal practice. The Americans are taking full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Montreux Convention; there is full compliance with the parameters that are necessary. This is fully consistent with the doctrine that was approved in 1996, when the Americans declared that the Black Sea was a zone of their interests...
This practice indicates the United States’ intentions to turn the Black Sea into a zone of increased militarization; the Americans are trying in every possible way to demonstrate their priorities in close proximity to the Russian borders. But we have the opportunity to practice. The Black Sea Fleet has the opportunity, through escort and patrolling, to work with the Americans in terms of the capabilities of their qualities, radio equipment, weapons systems, reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures, and so on.
The Americans are naive in that by walking through our waters and appearing here, to put it mildly, they are setting themselves up. We can analyze their activities, assess their intentions and respond accordingly,” Gorbachev said.
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