So far there is no need to talk about any qualitative build-up of NATO’s military presence in the Black Sea.
The correspondent of PolitNavigator reports this, Izvestia was told by expert of the Russian International Affairs Council Ilya Kramnik, who believes that
“Due to the current agreements on the regime of the Black Sea straits, this is impossible - according to the Montreux Convention of 1936. The Turks carefully monitor compliance with this document. In addition, there is a conflict within the alliance between Turkey and some other NATO members. It is unlikely that Ankara will want to support the North Atlantic bloc if it wants to increase its naval presence there. NATO has been conducting joint exercises with Ukraine for a long time, dating back to the 1990s. So this is nothing new,” the expert said.
At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that in recent years the Russian Black Sea Fleet has been intensively renewed.
“In particular, it is receiving new equipment: ships and submarines. The submarine forces have been significantly updated, the coastal units have received new equipment: a new air defense system, and missile systems with anti-ship missiles. Aviation is also being updated: Su-30 fighters, new helicopters and much more,” the publication’s interlocutor emphasized.
“We definitely don’t need to be the initiators of any arms race, especially in a difficult economic situation. We must adhere to existing plans to renew the fleet and forces in Crimea and the south of the country,” Kramnik concluded.