Militarization of the Black Sea

Andriy KLYMENKO, Maidan of Foreign Affairs (Kyiv), BSNews Chief Editor. Uss Ross (DDG 71), the US Navy missile destroyer arrived at Constanta, Romania on September 5, 2014 in the course of patrolling the Black Sea. The vessel is heading to Odesa area on September 7, 2014 to participate in the Sea Breeze 2014 Ukrainian-US naval training.

Vladimir YEVSEYEV, director of the Center for Public Policy Research, Moscow, specially for BSNews. However, in mid-May, the Mediterranean force saw its status upgraded to being directly subordinate to the General Staff of the Russian Navy. On June 1, the formation, consisting of 16 warships, plus auxiliary vessels and three helicopters, commenced military duty under the command of the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev.

Eugene KOGAN, The Center for International and European Studies (CIES), Istanbul. The two unresolved conflicts in the South Caucasus hang over Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia like the Sword of Damocles. As seen from every view point, Russia’s influence, levers and policy toward conflicts resolution remain the key issues. As long as Moscow maintains a status quo policy and keeps the outside actors at arm’s length from the region, the unresolved conflicts will continue to fester.

Andrei Klimenko, Anatoliy Odaynik, Vladimir Trofimov, BSNews. Two Turkish naval vessels - the military transport ro-ro ferry TCG ISKENDERUN (A1600), manufactured in Turkey, and the former German Donau (A 69), currently the training and staff vessel, TCG SOKULLU MEHMET PASA (A577) – came to Odessa on 2013-05-20...