Russia to counter NATO presence in Black Sea

Russia has slammed the military presence of trans-regional powers in the Black Sea, saying Moscow is set to take counter measures against NATO’s mission in the strategic waters.

Aleksandr Grushko, Russia’s envoy to NATO, made the comments on Friday after the Western military alliance announced the dispatch of another US warship to the Black Sea amid the crisis in Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, the Black Sea is becoming a place where non-regional powers have a permanent presence. What they are doing there is unclear,” said Grushko, adding, “Of course, we will take the necessary countermeasures.”
The Russian envoy also condemned the military bloc for stationing high alert forces close to Russia’s borders by holding frequent war drills with countries including Poland and the Baltic states.

Grushko’s remarks came in response to a statement by US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, saying the USS Donald Cook was to enter the Black Sea later in the day.

US Commander Charles Hampton, the ship’s commanding officer, said in the statement that the presence of the warship in the region “is meant to reassure and at the same time demonstrate our commitment to work closely with NATO allies in order to enhance maritime security.”

In addition to the USS Donald Cook, the American destroyer USS Truxton, the USS Taylor and several other NATO warships have been deployed to the Black Sea amid the Ukraine crisis.

Tensions between Russia and the West heightened after Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea re-joined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March.

Relations were strained further after Ukraine launched military operations in mid-April to silence pro-Russia protests in the country’s mainly Russian-speaking regions in eastern Ukraine.

The US and the European Union accuse Russia of destabilizing Ukraine and have imposed a series of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures. Moscow, however, rejects the accusation.