The following is the Aug. 5, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief. Read More

The following is the Aug. 5, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, Turkey: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief. Read More
Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo
The first grain ship left Ukraine Monday, departing through Odesa’s port, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. Read More
The Russian military is building a pontoon bridge in Kherson along the Dnipro River, according to satellite imagery. Read More
Wheat fields in midsummer in Ukraine, Oblast Lviv in 2012. Raimond Spekking Photo
Ukraine still faces hurdles in grain exportation despite an agreement with Russia, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, to allow shipments of the food stuff to leave the country.
U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to board a landing craft, air cushion in light armored vehicles during BALTOPS 22 in Ventspils, Latvia, June 12, 2022. U.S. Marine Corps Photo
When Turkey dropped its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the transatlantic alliance this week, it opened up the path to turn the “Baltic [into an] internal NATO sea,” Estonia’s top defense official said Wednesday. Read More
CNO Adm. Mike Gilday arrives at the BALTOPS22 closing reception aboard the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) in Kiel, Germany, June 17, 2022. US Navy Photo
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD — Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance would fundamentally alter naval strategy and operations in the Baltic Sea and Arctic Basin, the heads of the French and American navies said today. Read More
Rota based Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) transits Bosphorus towards the Black Sea on June 26, 2021. Photo by Yörük Işık used with permission
Turkey has no problem holding back approval of Sweden’s and Finland’s applications to join NATO while pursuing its own talks with Russia on opening Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to allow the shipment of grain overseas, a panel of security experts said Wednesday. Read More
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command Commanding General Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli delivers a speech during the 7th Army Training Command change of command ceremony at Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 2, 2021. U.S. Army
The nominee to be the next top commander of United States forces in Europe told the Senate Armed Services Committee this week that he “looks forward to the accession” of Finland and Sweden to NATO to bolster the alliance’s defenses, particularly in the Baltic Sea and High North. Read More
Guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) transits the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Black Sea on Aug. 28, 2015. US Navy Photo
Turkey has closed off the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to warships from any country, whether or not they border the Black Sea, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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USNI News Graphic
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 28, 2022, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More