MOSCOW, Nov 7 - RIA Novosti. Conducting regular military exercises bypassing the Montreux Convention will help deprive Russia of dominance in the Black Sea - this opinion was shared by US Navy officer Brian Harrington in an article for The Hill.
In his opinion, Bastion and Kalibr missiles, including their upgraded long-range anti-ship and land versions, provide Moscow with enormous power, which allows using the same tactics in the Black Sea that Beijing uses in the South China Sea (A2AD — restriction and prohibition of access and maneuver).
Harrington also recalled the Russian fighter jets that hinder the activity of NATO allies in the region.
To solve this problem, Harrington proposed conducting military maneuvers using high-tech weapons and interoperability.
According to the Montreux Convention, non-Black Sea countries are obliged to comply with restrictions on the tonnage of warships when passing through the straits in peacetime, so the specialist called on states to join forces to circumvent this rule.
He also considers it necessary to strengthen the positions of NATO partners with the help of cruise missiles. Romania has already decided to purchase a Naval Strike Missile, but Bulgaria and Turkey should also be involved to confront Russia, the American officer is convinced.
The author concluded that only these steps will help "preserve the freedom of the international waters of the Black Sea."
This week, the flagship of the Sixth Fleet of the US Navy, the USS Mount Whitney, entered the Black Sea. As reported, the US military, together with NATO partners, are launching joint operations in the region. The ships are monitored by the forces and means of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
