U.S. brushes "existence" in the Black Sea increases risk of conflict with Russia

　　On May 29, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued an announcement saying that the Russian anti-missile system tracked the US B-1B strategic bomber near the Russian border in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, and then the Russian Su-27 and Su-30SM fighters accompanied the US bombers Fly and intercept until the US bombers are far from the Russian border.

　　In the current epidemic situation, the US military still frequently "senses of presence" in the Black Sea, increasing the risk of conflict with Russia.

　　Prior to this, the US Navy's "Porter" guided missile destroyer departed from Spain, entered the Black Sea waters through the Mediterranean Sea, and began a "routine 6th Fleet jurisdiction cruise." The Russian Black Sea Fleet sent sea and air forces to carry out accompanying surveillance. This is the second time the US Navy destroyer has entered the Black Sea.

　　The Black Sea region is a strategic channel for Russia to advance into the Mediterranean Sea, and it is also a strategic strategic point for NATO to contain Russia. NATO, led by the United States, continues to absorb Black Sea coastal countries to join, continuously squeezing Russia's strategic space. Not long ago, North Macedonia successfully joined NATO, adding new variables to the game situation of regional powers. Russia is clearly not going to wait for the squeeze in the West. It not only takes military action to respond, but also uses information, economy, energy and other means to respond effectively.

　　For a long time, Russia and the United States have paid close attention to the Black Sea region. The confrontation between the two sides has been ups and downs, but overall it has been restrained. Judging from the regional strategic situation, the situation of "US attack on Russia" tends to be stable. Russia emphasizes that the Black Sea is its "life on the coastline", which is of great significance to the protection of Russian national interests. However, due to historical reasons, Russia's "geographical advantage" in the Black Sea region is not obvious, and it is relatively strategically defensive. The United States and NATO allies often intervene in the affairs of the Black Sea region, often carrying out Black Sea cruises, highlighting the military presence, and forming a relative strategic advantage over Russia. In order to defend the rights and interests of the Black Sea, Russia has also taken some strong measures to respond to the "routine cruise" of American ships. For example, in 2014, the Su-24 carried out combat flying around the US ship and simulated missile attacks. However, Russia and the United States did not wipe out the guns, but maintained the overall situation of "U.S. pressing and Russia actively responding."

　　From the perspective of the deployment of frontier troops, the trend of the US and Russia seeking further regional military superiority is obvious. Since 2015, the European Command of the US Army has continued to expand the number of surface ships and applied to the country for the addition of two more destroyers at the beginning of this year to further strengthen the regional military power to contain Russia more effectively. Russia is not to be outdone. In order to strengthen its military strength in the Black Sea region, Russia has deployed the advanced S-400 "Triumph" air defense missile system and the "Armor-S1" artillery integrated air defense system in Crimea. The new 22350 frigate will also be installed in the Black Sea fleet.

　　The timing and background of the US "Porter" guided missile destroyer cruise is different from the past. Since the US Navy's USS "Roosevelt" aircraft carrier appeared in new cases of new coronary pneumonia in late March, the number of US military diagnoses has continued to increase. In the face of the increasingly serious domestic epidemic situation, the US military has not been spared, especially in the severe situation of the Spanish outbreak of the Porter station, the US Navy still performs the cruise mission "as planned". In order to show its military superiority, the United States is not hesitant to gamble on the lives of officers and soldiers under the epidemic crisis.

　　The Russian President ’s press secretary Peskov said on May 29 that the closeness of US warplanes to the Russian border has increased the tension between Russia and the United States. In addition, although the United States refers to the Black Sea "routine cruise" as a regional maritime security operation with NATO allies and partners, it is to enhance regional stability and comply with international law. But this does not meet Russia's strategic interests, and the impact of the epidemic on the US Navy itself, this action under the banner of "safety" is actually not safe. If Russia adopts a "defense in the middle" strategy, the military confrontation between the two sides in the region will become more intense and frequent.

　　(Author: Academy of Military Sciences)

Yang Xi