{"id":212006,"date":"2020-08-15T06:43:47","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T06:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=212006"},"modified":"2020-08-17T06:05:10","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T06:05:10","slug":"the-us-and-nato-are-boosting-their-presence-in-a-hotspot-for-military-activity-near-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=212006","title":{"rendered":"The US and NATO are boosting their presence in a hotspot for military activity near Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Christopher Woody \u2013 Bloomberg Aug 12, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id=\"attachment_212007\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/USS-Porter-resize.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-212007\" class=\"wp-image-212007\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/USS-Porter-resize.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/USS-Porter-resize.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/USS-Porter-resize-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-212007\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">USS Porter with other ships during exercise Sea Breeze in the Black Sea, July 25, 2020. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">In late July, the US and other partners wrapped up the 20th iteration of Sea Breeze, a multinational military exercise in the Black Sea.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The exercise comes amid years of rising tensions between Russia and its neighbors \u2014 and the Black Sea has been a growing hotspot for those increasingly contentious relations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Ben Hodges, US Army Europe commander from 2015 to 2017, cautioned that the coming months \u2014 with an ongoing drought in Crimea, US and Ukrainian elections, and a major military exercise in southwestern Russia \u2014 could see more Russian action.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The long-awaited announcement about the redeployment of thousands of US troops currently in Germany finally came at the end of July.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">US officials, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Tod Wolters, who heads US European Command, outlined the moves and the strategic reasoning behind them. President Donald Trump <a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/us-defense-officials-detail-plans-to-withdraw-troops-from-germany-2020-7\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>immediately undercut their remarks<\/strong><\/span>,<\/a> but their references to the Black Sea reflect how the region is a growing point of tension with Russia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;We&#8217;re moving forces out of Central Europe, Germany, where they had been since the Cold War,&#8221; Esper said. &#8220;We&#8217;re following, in many ways, the boundary east [to] where our newest allies are, so into the Black Sea region&#8221; as well as Poland and the Baltics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The shift means European Command will &#8220;now be able to rotate units in perpetuity in multiple locations,&#8221; including the Black Sea, which &#8220;dramatically improves our operational capability,&#8221; Wolters said.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8216;The Kremlin sees that&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Moscow, the most powerful Black Sea state, invaded neighboring Georgia in 2008. Tensions have remained high since Russia&#8217;s 2014 seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;The Black Sea region is what the Kremlin uses launch its operations in Syria and Libya and the Eastern [Mediterranean],&#8221; Ben Hodges, who commanded US Army Europe between 2015 and 2017, told Insider. &#8220;It&#8217;s how they influence everything that goes on in the Balkans and the Caucuses as well as obviously Ukraine and Moldova.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Hodges is one of many who\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/us-defense-officials-detail-plans-to-withdraw-troops-from-germany-2020-7\">criticized the redeployment<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0of European Command forces, arguing it doesn&#8217;t improve readiness and that the manner in which it&#8217;s being done hurts NATO.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;Having said that, I always welcome any additional focus on the Black Sea region, because I think that &#8230; needs to be a much higher priority,&#8221; Hodges said, adding that Esper&#8217;s suggestion that a Stryker brigade could be deployed to the region was &#8220;a very good idea.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;Increasing [NATO] naval presence in the Black Sea region really is even more important,&#8221; as the Turkish, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian navies are &#8220;still not a match for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,&#8221; Hodges said.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_137991\" style=\"width: 370px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Russian-navy-cruise-missile-launch.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-137991\" class=\"wp-image-137991\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Russian-navy-cruise-missile-launch.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Russian-navy-cruise-missile-launch.png 982w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Russian-navy-cruise-missile-launch-300x183.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-137991\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Russian navy launches cruise missiles from a ship in the Caspian Sea at Islamic State militants in Aleppo, Syria. To put this into perspective: the Caspian Sea is further from Moscow than the Black Sea. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Hodges cautioned that the coming months \u2014 with\u00a0<a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/worldview.stratfor.com\/article\/russias-quick-fixes-wont-solve-crimeas-water-woes\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>an ongoing drought<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Crimea, US and Ukrainian elections, and Moscow&#8217;s major\u00a0<a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themoscowtimes.com\/2020\/06\/02\/russia-scales-down-military-drills-near-nato-borders-in-2020-official-a70444\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Kavkaz-2020<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0military exercise in southwestern Russia \u2014 could see more Russian action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Concerns about more aggressive moves by Moscow have risen on\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/warontherocks.com\/2016\/08\/the-crimean-crisis-and-russias-military-posture-in-the-black-sea\/\">other occasions<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0since 2014, and experts have said seizing more Ukrainian territory now amid\u00a0<a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kyivpost.com\/ukraine-politics\/crimea-running-out-of-water-due-to-annexation-looks-for-water-sources.html\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>that drought<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0doesn&#8217;t make much\u00a0<a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cepa.org\/trouble-on-the-black-sea\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>political or logistical sense<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0for Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">But the combination of factors creates an opening, Hodges said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;Given the inconsistent response by this administration in the United States, and other than EU sanctions on Russia there hasn&#8217;t been that much in the way of real, firm response in the region&#8221; to Russian actions, Hodges said. &#8220;I think the Kremlin sees that.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8216;The increasingly important Black Sea&#8217;<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_187104\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-187104\" class=\"wp-image-187104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea-768x384.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/USS-Ross-in-Souda-Bay-Greece-shortly-before-sailing-into-the-Black-Sea.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-187104\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">USS Ross in Souda Bay, Greece, shortly before sailing into the Black Sea in 2019. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">In June, Adm. James Foggo, outgoing commander of US naval forces in Europe, said eight US ships spent about 120 days patrolling the Black Sea last year and &#8220;routinely&#8221; conduct &#8220;complex exercises&#8221; like Sea Breeze with allies and partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The US military has increased its presence in the area in recent years, and the 20th iteration of Sea Breeze, a Ukrainian-US exercise with other Black Sea and NATO nations, was the latest example.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">&#8220;Every visit to the Black Sea encompasses working together with our partners and growing our interoperability,&#8221; Cmdr. Craig Trent, commanding officer of Navy destroyer USS Porter, told Insider. &#8220;Together, we executed a complex, multi-warfare exercise all without stepping foot ashore for face-to-face planning due to COVID mitigations.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">This year it included more than 40 ships and aircraft from eight countries. The Porter was there on its <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c6f.navy.mil\/Press-Room\/News\/Article\/2295592\/uss-porter-departs-the-black-sea\/fbclid\/IwAR0Kedo4JYME11233oGPL7F74i7dqi_Cni9tdfTOKkJ3_lEHxLMe0P0XukY\/\">third Black Sea patrol<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in five months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The destroyer &#8220;conducted surface action group tactical maneuvering, over-the-horizon surface targeting, air defense, and anti-submarine operations,&#8221; Trent said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The Porter worked with a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft &#8220;to share a common tactical maritime picture&#8221; and &#8220;with Ukrainian tactical aircraft during the air-defense exercises,&#8221; Trent said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The P-8A worked with ships and aircraft, including Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets, on undersea warfare and air-intercept training, Cmdr. M. Trever Plageman, head of Patrol Squadron 47, told Insider. (Russian planes <a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/russian-video-of-us-military-aircraft-intercept-over-black-sea-2020-6\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>frequently intercept<\/strong><\/span><\/a> US aircraft over the Black Sea, <a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/tass.com\/defense\/1182089\">including<\/a> during Sea Breeze.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The Black Sea &#8220;provides complex training opportunities, which enhance aircrew proficiency for littoral undersea warfare,&#8221; Plageman said. &#8220;Of equal importance was the cooperative interaction with allies and other partner nations, which improved our squadron&#8217;s interoperability within the increasingly important Black Sea region.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The Porter also worked with the US Air Force on &#8220;air defense and surface-to-air integration of systems,&#8221; Trent said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">During Sea Breeze, US Air Forces Europe led a one-day mission with Navy and Space Command assets &#8220;to train US forces to integrate, operate, and communicate while executing all domain operations,&#8221; according to\u00a0a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usafe.af.mil\/News\/Press-Releases\/Article\/2282305\/black-sea-all-domains-all-day\/\">release<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">It included F-16s that &#8220;conducted training scenarios&#8221; using Joint Air-to-Surface Missile cruise missile tactics. The JASSM is a long-range &#8220;precision standoff missile&#8221; designed &#8220;to destroy high-value, well-defended targets.&#8221; US Special Operations Command Europe also sent an MC-130J aircraft &#8220;to exercise special operations forces insertion.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Sea Breeze concluded on July 26, but on August 2, the Navy and Air Force <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navy.mil\/Press-Office\/News-Stories\/display-news\/Article\/2297471\/us-navy-conducts-joint-operations-with-us-air-force-in-the-black-sea\">conducted<\/a><\/strong><\/span> a similar exercise in the area \u2014 with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2020\/08\/03\/u-s-air-force-and-navy-perform-joint-exercise-over-the-black-sea-with-live-weapons\/\">live weapons<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/us-nato-russian-militaries-increasingly-active-in-black-sea-2020-8?r=US&amp;IR=T\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To put this into context; the Black Sea is in Moscow\u2019s backyard. Essentially it is what the Gulf of Mexico is to Washington  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-212006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-russia"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=212006"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":212009,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212006\/revisions\/212009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=212006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=212006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=212006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}