"Hurriet" cites the statement of the commander of the American destroyer "Ross" about the NATO exercises that ended in the Black Sea. According to him, the purpose of the military maneuvers was not only to improve the interaction of personnel and equipment of the participating countries, but also to send a message to those who want to appropriate the Black Sea for themselves. It is not difficult to guess who this message is addressed to.
The day before, the Sea Breeze exercises, which were conducted jointly by Ukraine and NATO, including with the participation of Turkey, ended. The American commander John D. John gave a signal to Russia, noting: "We wanted to show that no one can appropriate the Black Sea and international waters for themselves."
On July 10, the exercises "Sea Breeze - 2021" (Sea Breeze) ended, which lasted two weeks in the Black Sea in the shadow of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. The exercises, which involved about 30 warships and 40 combat aircraft of NATO and Ukraine, ended with a signal to Russia.
Signal from the destroyer
Commander of the USS Ross, which participated in the exercises John D. John noted that the purpose of the military maneuvers was to improve the interaction of equipment and personnel of the participating countries. "We wanted to show everyone, the international community, that no country can appropriate the Black Sea or international waters. These waters belong to the international community, and we strive to ensure that all countries have access to these waterways," the commander said.
Russia is watching closely
The exercises were closely monitored by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The Russian armed Forces conducted training firing in the Black Sea and in the south-west of Russia with the use of combat aircraft and long-range missiles. Last month, Russia said it had opened warning fire on the British destroyer HMS Defender, which was passing off the coast of Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed in 2014. American Commander John described the exercises as " a strong proof of commitment to security and stability in the Black Sea basin."
