The US Navy reported that the US missile-guided missile destroyer (URO) Ross arrived in the region to carry out a package of measures "to ensure security and strengthen regional stability at sea."
“With this visit, we are consistently strengthening our relations with the Black Sea partners. Operations in the Black Sea are crucial for creating a safe marine environment and ensuring freedom of navigation, ”the agency’s website said in a statement.
The press service of the Navy added that the ship’s actions in the region strengthen cooperation with NATO partners, as well as demonstrate a collective willingness to ensure security within the framework of the Atlantic Decision operation.
The destroyer URO Ross, equipped with the combat information-control system Aegis, arrived in the Black Sea on February 23. This is the first US ship to enter the Black Sea waters this year.
The Russian National Defense Management Center reported that the ships of the Black Sea Fleet are monitoring the actions of the destroyer.
Americans want to demonstrate strength, as well as commitment to protecting their allied states, said Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Yuri Shvytkin.
“Today, the entry of an American ship is obviously a destabilizing factor in the region, and does not provide security, as the United States presents it. The launch of the ship causes tension and, of course, in this case, appropriate measures will be taken. We have taken the situation under special control, ”he told RT.
Shvytkin added that the frequency of American ships entering the Black Sea indicates an unhealthy interest in the United States in Russian borders.
FILE PHOTOS: #USSRoss (DDG 71) began her transit into the Black Sea today, the first time a US Navy ship has visited this year, continuing efforts to strengthen partnerships with our NATO allies. # MontreuxConvention # NavyPartnerships
Read More: https://t.co/xjvu26eVIfpic.twitter.com/Y8DegPHOT8
Former Black Sea Fleet commander, Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Admiral Igor Kasatonov, in an interview with RT, called the operation of a destroyer a common practice of the US and NATO.
“The western coast of the Black Sea is under their control, they have a missile defense system in Romania, and in the long term in Bulgaria. This is a mission close to combat. Nevertheless, the Americans act within the framework of international maritime rules, do not violate laws and territorial waters and, using the principle of the open sea, swim where possible, ”he said.
The expert added that the situation is under the control of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and confirmed that it poses no threat to Russia.
“However, in this case I always want to say:“ We would choose a back street for walks away, ”Kasatonov said.
“Naturally, we are somewhat dissatisfied with all these points. But we can equally sail along their coast. This is a kind of mutual practice, ”he concluded.
According to the international Montreux Convention, warships of certain classes (light surface ships, small warships and auxiliary vessels) of non-Black Sea states in peacetime have the right to stay in the Black Sea for no more than 21 days. The total tonnage of all warships of non-Black Sea countries simultaneously present in the water area should not exceed 30 thousand tons, and the number should be nine units. Moreover, for an individual taken such a state, the tonnage should not exceed two-thirds of the total tonnage.
In 2016, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is increasing its presence in the Black Sea region due to the accession of Crimea to Russia.
“Of course, this affects the entire security situation in the Black Sea region, so we have already strengthened our presence in this region,” he said.
In turn, Alexander Grushko, who then held the post of permanent representative of Russia to the alliance, said that Moscow would do everything to ensure that the Black Sea did not turn into a "NATO lake".
“Today, NATO is trying to transfer confrontational schemes to the Black Sea. Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Black Sea cannot be allowed to turn into a “Russian lake”. But NATO is well aware that the Black Sea will never turn into a "NATO lake", and we will take all necessary measures to neutralize possible threats and attempts to force pressure on Russia from the south, "he said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta ".
It is worth noting that at the end of February the head of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) Alexei Rakhmanov said that in the first quarter of this year, the Russian Navy will be replenished with the first serial multi-purpose patrol ship of Project 22350 Admiral Kasatonov Fleet. By 2025, the Navy should receive a total of six frigates of project 22350. Now, Severnaya Verf is building Admiral Golovko and Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Isakov. In April last year, in the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, two more ships were laid at the enterprise - Admiral Amelko and Admiral Chichagov.