In the Black Sea, NATO ships will end up at the bottom - Russian general
Provocations and border violations by NATO in the Black Sea basin are theoretically possible, but it is unlikely that the alliance’s leadership will agree to this, understanding the seriousness of the consequences.
The chairman of the presidium of Officers of Russia, Major General Sergei Lipovoy, stated this to Moskovsky Komsomolets, answering the question of how the Russian Navy will act in response to NATO threats to increase the number of its ships in the Black Sea.
In his opinion, such a development of events only poses a danger to the possibility of future political dialogue between NATO countries, Ukraine and Russia. The expert also added that the alliance will not understand that attempts to force Russia to talk using military pressure will not bear fruit.
“In addition, they are exposing their Navy to attack, since in the event of any serious provocations, NATO ships will find themselves at the bottom. Let me remind you that they are all under the gun of missiles deployed in Crimea. I emphasize that NATO’s military presence in the Black Sea is due to an attempt to put political pressure on Russia. Provocations and border violations are theoretically possible, but it is unlikely that the NATO leadership will do this, understanding the consequences,” the general believes.
He recalled that NATO ships have the right to stay in the Black Sea waters for only 21 days, and these ships should not have heavy weapons, and in addition, there is a limitation on the size of foreign fleets.
Non-coastal countries can send a fleet to the Black Sea that does not exceed 2/3 of the power of the strongest state, that is, Russia. Their total tonnage should not exceed 30 thousand tons. Moreover, in order to enter the Black Sea, the same Americans need to request permission from Turkey to pass through the Bosphorus. And it’s not a fact that Turkey will let them through. Because Turkey does not need aggravation in the Black Sea, they value the balance that has developed there and do not want to upset it.
As for the actions of our Navy, they will be adequate to the current situation. As a rule, frigates of the Black Sea Fleet escort a group of NATO ships entering the Black Sea and keep them under constant control,” Lipovoy noted.
As PolitNavigator reported, recently the US Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison stated that the alliance plans to take action to ensure the passage of Ukrainian ships through the Kerch Strait, as well as expand the scope of aerial reconnaissance in the Black Sea.
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