With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Russia has strengthened its military capabilities in the eastern Mediterranean, which is a rear base for the Black Sea and a conflict zone, according to French military observers in Greece.
In a statement to Agence France-Presse, the captain and officer in charge of regional communications for the French army in the Mediterranean, Thibaut Laverne, explained that "there are currently about 20 Russian ships in the Mediterranean, and Russia has doubled or even tripled its military capabilities in the region (destroyers, frigates, and submarines). , and others).
The return of Russian power in the eastern Mediterranean has gradually begun since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, when Moscow began deploying ships in the Syrian port of Tartus;
The only permanent Russian naval facility outside the borders of the former Soviet Union.
Russian advance in the West
The French captain says that "what is new is the Russian advance in the west: north of Crete, as well as western Greece on the Peloponnese peninsula and the northern Aegean Sea near the Black Sea," and stresses that "Russian ships are stationed to monitor the activity of the Allied forces."
Analysts believe that the spread of the Russian fleet in the region - which began before the Russian war in Ukraine on February 24 last - can be exploited to send military reinforcements and weapons to Ukraine, but also to launch cruise missiles from ships to support ground operations.
"Wherever there are Americans, there are also Russians," said Captain Laverne.
US forces, which have reduced their presence in the Mediterranean for 10 years, are also changing tactics.
The French navy officer stresses that "Ukraine has changed the game; the Americans are preparing a major comeback, unprecedented since the Cold War."
"The Americans, for example, sent about 10 ships from the Indian Ocean to monitor the Mediterranean region," he added.
Previous Russian maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean (Al-Jazeera)
Atlantic Plane 2 takes over the watch
At the NATO base in Souda, on the Greek island of Crete, an aircraft with a glass cockpit provides a 180-degree view, and the goal is a message to the Russians “that the eastern Mediterranean is an area of activity for NATO allies,” according to the officer Commander Johann, who did not He reveals his surname for security reasons.
The Atlantic 2 aircraft (made by the French company Dassault) can fly up to 30 meters above sea level, which makes it ideal for accurate monitoring of marine traffic. In monitoring submarines, and electronic support for monitoring radars around.
Laurent - who works in tactical coordination - notes that "Atlantic 2 is mainly used to determine the situation on the surface" and "monitor all ships in the area", reviewing a file on its front page with a picture of a Russian landing ship.
The French military adds, "We can determine the nationalities of the ships," because "all ships over 12 meters in length and containing a monitorable light box must be registered."
And he continues, "If this is not the case, we monitor it to see if it follows human traffickers or engages in illegal activities," then all the information is shared with the French General Staff, and also with the NATO command.
Desire to reduce stress
"In an offensive context, we can also direct the attack, find targets to strike, and help combat aircraft," adds the frigate's captain, Johann, before adding, "But we are not in a state of crisis in this region, and the goal is simply to maintain Europe's security."
The Mediterranean is a strategic region for Europe and NATO because 65% of the world's energy supplies and 30% of global trade passes through it;
Therefore, the concentration in the region is also a way to protect Western economic interests.
Although Turkey banned all warships from crossing the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits;
The Atlantic 2 plane can fly over the Black Sea, which is not off-limits to air traffic, but Johan points out that "the allies will not go there because our desire is to reduce tension with Russia."