During his visit to the USS aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Mediterranean, US Ambassador to Russia John Hunstman said: US aircraft carrier groups show Moscow that it must stop "destabilizing" the situation in the world if it wants to improve relations with Washington.

“Diplomatic ties and dialogue, as well as the powerful defense that these ships provide, show Russia that if it really wants to improve relations with the United States, it should stop conducting its destabilizing activities around the world,” the ambassador said.

“Each of the aircraft carriers currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea is 100,000 tons of international diplomacy,” Huntsman added.

The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS John C. Stennis, a dual carrier strike group led by Nimitz-type nuclear aircraft carriers, has been conducting maneuvers since April 23 in the Mediterranean. The Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez, the French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle and the frigate Forbin, as well as the Danish frigate Niels Juel were connected to work with American ships.

The structure of the aircraft carrier group consists of ten ships, more than 130 aircraft and about 9 thousand sailors and marines, the press service of the US Navy said. They noted that two US aircraft carriers have jointly performed their tasks in the Mediterranean for the first time since 2016. After completing the maneuvers, USS John C. Stennis will head to the US Navy base in Norfolk, and USS Abraham Lincoln to San Diego.

According to the commander of the US Navy in Europe and Africa, Admiral James Foggo, the dual carrier group is a serious force to guarantee the fulfillment of the tasks assigned to it.

“In the era of competition between the great powers, especially in the maritime sphere, one carrier group provides tremendous operational flexibility and maneuverability. Two attack carrier-based groups acting together (with simultaneous interaction with our allies and NATO partners) provide unprecedented deterrence against unilateral aggression, ”Foggo said.

He also noted that the activities of such large military groups clearly demonstrate Washington’s commitment to "security and stability in the region."

“It is extremely important that we give our civilian leaders options and the opportunity to negotiate from a position of strategic strength,” Foggo quoted the publication of the United States Defense Department Stars and Stripes. - Our deployment and military presence is designed to deter and protect. It should prevent and not provoke a conflict. ”

  • Commander of the US Navy in Europe and Africa, Admiral James Foggo and US Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
  • © US Navy / Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matt Herbst

The real action against the "horror stories"

Commenting on recent statements by John Huntsman, deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats Andrei Baklanov expressed regret that an experienced politician like Huntsman found it possible to join the “questionable campaign”, which aims to psychologically prepare a number of countries to think about the need to create The Middle East has a new grouping like NATO.

“Huntsman accuses us of attacking, trying to dominate, but the question arises: what is this armada doing far from the US coast? The concept of an organic link between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean is generally accepted, for us the Mediterranean Sea is as close a basin as the Black Sea. This is a special area of ​​our interests. The Americans think that this is a piece of the world's oceans, where everyone is on an equal footing, but this is not the case, ”the expert believes.

“They need to start with themselves. What are they doing in the Black and Mediterranean Seas? This is an attempt to dominate the world in the most unscrupulous manner, ”stressed Baklanov.

According to the military political scientist, head of the department of political science and sociology of the PRUE. Plekhanov Andrey Koshkin, that such statements fit into a certain style of building relationships, which the West is proposing today. Moreover, it adheres to this line of intimidation and pressure on Russia, not only military, but also political and diplomatic leadership of Western countries.

“All this must be seen through the prism of real possibilities. We carry out a verified foreign policy line. They deploy their aircraft carriers, but we must bear in mind that we have signed a contract for Tartus. The beautiful profile of the port allows you to deliver 11 ships with nuclear installations, it is also possible to enter high-class submarines. For this kind of public "horror stories" we have real action, "- said Koshkin in an interview with RT.

In turn, the captain of the first rank, military expert Vasily Dandykin called the argument of Huntsman extremely strange despite the fact that in the past it was from ships of this class that aircraft that bombed Syria, Libya, Yugoslavia took off.

“Yesterday sounded our adequate response. Of course, we will not have “100,000 tons of peace”, but yesterday four new ships were laid, two frigates with reinforced missiles, the nuclear submarine Belgorod was launched, carrying the Poseidon. In principle, perhaps this is how excited the American ambassador. In any case, the arrival of these two carrier groups is a big reason for our squadron in the Mediterranean to train in tracking them, ”said the expert.

“Sailors have always understood each other, both American and Russian, so there will be no problems. And politicians have their own work, ”concluded Dandykin.