USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) in 2011. US Military Sea Lift Command Photo
The U.S. command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) entered the Black Sea on Saturday — a day after guided missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) — bringing the total of American naval ships in the region to two, according on a release from U.S. 6th Fleet. Read More
Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo
The September decision by France to withhold delivery of two Mistral-class Landing Platforms Helicopter (LPH) building for Russia is an opportunity for NATO, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and for the French shipbuilding industry and economy. France should not suffer economically for taking a stand against Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine. Rather, NATO, France and Canada can benefit if a little mutually beneficial creativity is applied.
While France desperately wants to complete the two amphibious warships — and get paid for them — NATO and Canada need the capabilities these ships can provide. Read More
Russian Mistral Vladivostok under construction on April 22, 2014. U.S. Naval Institute Combat Fleets of the World Photo
The suspended delivery of two French-built amphibious warships to the Russian Navy could give NATO an opportunity to buy a ready-made platform for its planned rapid reaction force, retired Adm. James G. Stavridis — former NATO Supreme Allied Commander — told USNI News on Thursday. Read More
President Barack Obama spent a night on the borders of Russia in Estonia, a country with a sizeable Russian minority, and from whence you truly can see Russia. In remarks a few hours ago, President Obama spoke not only to Estonia and NATO – but to the watchers just across the border in Russia when he said “”In this alliance, there are no old members or new members, no junior partners or senior partners — there are just allies, pure and simple. We will defend the territorial integrity of every single ally.”
An artist’s rendering of the future Russian Navy amphibious warship Vladivostok. DCNS Photo
France is backing out of a $1.53 billion deal that would have provided the Russian Navy two amphibious warships in reaction to the increasingly violent situation in Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and government forces, according to a Wednesday statement from the French government. Read More
Ukrainian patrol boat following an artillery barrage in the Azoz Sea on Aug. 31, 2014. Ukrainian State Border Guard Photo
Two Ukrainian patrol boats operating near the contested region of Donestk were shelled by artillery fired by unknown forces, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service announced on Monday. Read More
Russian troops in Crimea in March. REUTERS Photo
The way out of the Ukraine-Russia crisis lies in both countries realizing they “are not just neighbors, but relatives”—a goal not easily reached, a former senior State Department official said. He added, “Let’s just hope they survive the next week” as fighting has stepped up around separatist strongholds in Donetsk and Luhansk. Read More
Pro-Russian separatists at a check point in Kharkiv in Eastern Ukraine.
As summer rolls on, Russian-built anti-aircraft missiles continue to down aircraft over eastern Ukraine. While a great deal of ink has been spilled over exactly what kind of missiles are deployed, and who is giving the launch authorizations and actually launching them, one fact is salient: This is an escalation, intentional or not, that elevates the simmering Ukrainian civil war beyond Donetsk. Read More
An artist’s rendering of the future Russian Navy amphibious warship Vladivostok. DCNS Photo
Ukrainian president has joined the U.S. in opposing France sale of two amphibious warships to the Russian Navy in remarks to European legislators on Thursday. Read More
Gen. Philip Breedlove in April 2013. US Air Force Photo
The top U.S. commander in Europe said Monday that Moscow was supplying heavy, anti-aircraft weapons to Russian-backed separatists groups battling for control of the country’s eastern border. Read More
