"The intensity of intelligence of NATO countries continues to grow": the Ministry of Defense told about the US activity in the Black Sea region

On Friday, November 12, a meeting of the Russian-French Council in the "2 + 2" format was held in Paris, in which the ministers of defense and foreign affairs of the two countries took part.

During the meeting, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the military-political situation in Europe continues to deteriorate.

The ministers exchanged views on the situation in the world, touching on the topic of strategic stability and security in Europe.

“The Minister of Defense noted at the meeting that the military-political situation in Europe is degrading.

The build-up of NATO's military presence near the Russian borders continues.

At the same time, he pointed out that Russian initiatives aimed at increasing predictability and reducing the risk of incidents remain in force, ”Fomin said.

Meanwhile, the department said that the Russian Defense Ministry continues to monitor military activity of an aggressive nature on the part of the United States in the Black Sea region.

The Ministry of Defense explained that the radar facilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the forces of the Black Sea Fleet are continuously monitoring the air and sea situation in the Black Sea.

“The intensity of aerial reconnaissance of NATO countries near the borders of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea continues to grow.

Over the past day, six flights of reconnaissance aircraft of NATO countries in the airspace over the Black Sea were detected and accompanied by radar systems of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces, ”the ministry explained.

In the central and northwestern parts of the Black Sea, reconnaissance flights of three US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, a C-160G Gabriel reconnaissance aircraft of the French Aerospace Forces, as well as strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135 and U-2S of the US Air Force were recorded.

As the Ministry of Defense clarified, the USS USS Porter, USS Mount Whitney and USNS John Lenthall tanker, USN, after the passage from the Georgian port of Batumi, are in the southwestern part of the Black Sea and continue to move westward.

Control over the actions of American ships in the Black Sea is carried out by ships of the Black Sea Fleet, including the missile cruiser Moskva, the frigate Admiral Essen and the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin.

“The Russian Defense Ministry regards the aggressive military activity of the United States in the Black Sea region as a threat to regional security and strategic stability.

The true purpose of the US actions in the Black Sea region, unprovoked by Russia, is to study the theater of military operations in case of a military solution by Kiev to the conflict in the southeast, ”the department said.

Recall that American warships have been arriving in the Black Sea waters since the end of last month.

The destroyer USS Porter, mentioned in the message of the Ministry of Defense, armed with cruise missiles, entered the water area on October 30.

Later, on November 3 and 4, the USNS John Lenthall tanker and the flagship of the 6th Fleet USS Mount Whitney entered the Black Sea.

As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted shortly thereafter, the appearance of American courts negatively affects stability in the region.

In turn, the presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated on November 12 that the forces of the North Atlantic Alliance are actively operating near the borders of the Russian Federation.

According to him, the Russian side takes measures to ensure its security if “provocative actions” by opponents of Moscow take place near the borders.

“I mean NATO and NATO forces, which are very, very active and assertive in the immediate vicinity of our borders, be it air, water or land,” said Peskov.

Also on russian.rt.com Russian military escorted six NATO reconnaissance aircraft per day

He reiterated that Russia poses no threat to anyone.

At the same time, Peskov drew attention to the growth of provocative activity on the part of the West.

In this regard, he also mentioned the situation in the Black Sea, in particular, noting the activity of NATO reconnaissance aircraft, including American ones.

As the press secretary of the head of state noted, the current situation "cannot leave us indifferent to what is happening."

“We have to be on the lookout.

These are not our friends ... These are the planes of those who declare that their main goal is to contain and oppose the Russian Federation.

And those who call the Russian Federation an enemy.

Accordingly, we must somehow insure ourselves and hedge the risks, which we are doing, ”concluded Peskov.

According to the press service of the Romanian Defense Ministry, on November 12, seven warships of the US, Turkish, Ukrainian and Romanian navies conducted exercises in international waters off the Romanian coast of the Black Sea.

It is noted that in the coming weekend, American warships will be in the port of Constanta, where meetings of the commander of the US 6th Fleet, Vice Admiral Eugene Black, with Romanian representatives are scheduled.