Tensions between NATO and Russia escalate, US sends more amphibious assault ships
The United States has sent an amphibious transport ship to the Black Sea to participate in exercises with NATO allies, the US Sixth Fleet announced on July 8, amid growing concerns about a regional conflict.
According to the commanders, the shipUS NavyYuma, a Spearhead-class expeditionary transport ship, "began its northward journey into the Black Sea to work with our NATO allies and partners." The ship can transport an entire company of US Marines and is fully equipped to deploy aircraft and enable combat readiness missions.
The Yuma will participate in the Sea Breeze exercise with troops from 32 different countries, including Ukraine, Britain, France, Poland, Georgia, Senegal, South Korea, Pakistan, Japan, Morocco and several others.
Russia said the exercise posed a real risk of escalating military tensions. Last month, Russian diplomats called on the US to stop participating in the exercise, saying that "the scale and aggressive nature of the Sea Breeze exercise does not help in dealing with the real challenges to ensuring security in the Black Sea region." Moscow also said that NATO exercises would "increase the risk of unintentional incidents."
A US 6th Fleet spokesman said earlier that Washington was "proud to partner with Ukraine in co-hosting this multinational naval exercise."
The Sea Breeze exercise will end on July 10. This is an annual event in previous years, but this year, the exercise takes place in the context of escalating tensions between NATO and Russia. Two weeks ago, the British warship HMS Defender and the Russian military had a diplomatic incident when the ship passed through the waters off the Crimean Peninsula. Russia, which considers the area an integral part of its sovereign territory, responded by firing warning shots and dropping bombs in the ship's path, but the UK denied these moves and said that these were Ukrainian waters./.
