The US press proposes to protect Russia's neighbors in the Black Sea region
Russia is building up its forces in the Black Sea, putting pressure on its neighbors in the region. To end the "Russian aggression", the US needs to increase its pressure on Russia. Angela Stent writes about this in an article for the American publication Foreign Affairs.
Russia intends to establish its influence over the entire Black Sea region, the author is sure. Moscow's aggressive policies began in 2014, when it "illegally annexed" Ukrainian Crimea. Putin explained the seizure of the peninsula by reluctance to let NATO ships into the "city of glory of Russian sailors" Sevastopol, where the base of the Black Sea fleet... Since then, Russia has significantly entrenched itself in the Black Sea, deploying new ships and missiles there that threaten the coastal states of the region.
In addition, Russia "swung" at the Mediterranean, placing its military bases in Syria and already threatening the countries of the Middle East.
Russia's actions, hindering free shipping, "unnerve" Georgia and Ukraine, NATO partners in the region. Received from Russia and Romania with Bulgaria. Turkey alone continues to maneuver between NATO and Putin, Stent argues.
To confront Russia in the Black Sea, the efforts of the United States alone will not be enough, the author of the article is sure. The Biden administration needs to win over Turkey, which controls the straits. In addition, the United States should provide military-political assistance to Georgia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria, supporting all their anti-Russian initiatives. Particular attention should be paid to the modernization of the Georgian and Ukrainian armies and navies in order to maintain "free shipping" in the Black Sea.
Thus, the United States must side with the Black Sea states and protect "Russia's neighbors" from its "aggressive actions," Stent sums up.