US Naval Presence Off Russia's Black Sea Coast 'Clearly A Provocation' - EU Politician
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published November 10, 2021 | 07:05 PM
Thierry Mariani, a French member of the European Parliament, has called naval maneuvers of two US warships off the Russian shore in the Black Sea a clear provocation
BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th November, 2021) Thierry Mariani, a French member of the European Parliament, has called naval maneuvers of two US warships off the Russian shore in the Black Sea a clear provocation.
"The presence of the 'Mount Whitney', flagship of the US Sixth Fleet and the USS Porter in the Black Sea, as well as the NATO naval manoeuvres, are clearly a provocation of Russia... Can you imagine what the American reaction would be if the Russian navy organized manoeuvres in international waters off the American coast, near Washington DC?" he told Sputnik.
The Pentagon said the ships were in the region for routine maritime drills with NATO allies and partners. Ukraine welcomed their presence near what it considers as its annexed Crimea territory. The peninsula rejoined Russia after a referendum in 2014.
Mariani, who is a member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said the US would refrain from accepting Ukraine into NATO, which he called the ultimate escalation.
He also said Ukraine was becoming a real problem for Europe.
A recent report by the European Court of Auditors on Ukraine's finances revealed an 8 billion euro ($9.2 billion) hole in EU support funds. Mariani suggested that the money went to power-hungry oligarchs behind President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"This is very serious and could push Ukrainian politicians, the culprits of this widespread corruption, into a headlong rush action, for example into a hazardous military offensive in Donbas or an armed provocation of Russia in the Black Sea," he said.
Mariani said that the US-Russia standoff over Ukraine was part of the alliance's strategy of making small steps towards a broader conflict with Russia. NATO has also expanded its theaters of operation to the Pacific, with NATO ships patrolling the South China Sea to help the US respond to the "Chinese security threat."
"NATO should have been dismantled at the same time as the Warsaw Pact was suppressed in the last century and the present expansion, and projection by NATO of military forces to the whole world is very alarming," he said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan, USA to take on each other today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 6 June 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 06 June 2024
All resources to be used for welfare of Attock people: Governor
Markets mixed as US jobs data tempered by economy worries
Chairman DDMA, DC chairs Meeting on Desilting of Nullahs, Sewerage Lines
PML-N leadership believes in democratic norms: Sanaullah
Tennis: French Open results - 1st update
Andreeva shocks ailing Sabalenka, faces Paolini in French Open semis
Rohit plays down injury scare after India rout Ireland in T20 World Cup
Nature reborn a year after Ukraine dam blast
Over 9000 cusec water released in 2 canals after 94% sowing target achieved in M ..
More Stories From World
-
Stoinis shines as Australia cruise past Oman in T20 opener
1 hour ago -
Pakistan, Türkiye & Indonesia call for united action to combat rising Islamophobia
2 hours ago -
Cricket: T20 World Cup Australia v Oman scores
2 hours ago -
All eyes on Mbappe as France aim to live up to Euro 2024 billing
2 hours ago -
Four dead, dozens injured in Czech train crash
3 hours ago -
Colombian underwater 'art gallery' serves as coral home
3 hours ago
-
England expects Southgate to deliver at Euro 2024 after painful near misses
3 hours ago -
Chile's lithium dreams raise water concerns in the desert
3 hours ago -
Uganda claim first ever T20 World Cup victory with win over PNG
3 hours ago -
Cricket: Papua New Guinea v Uganda T20 World Cup scores
3 hours ago -
WHO confirms first fatal human case of H5N2 bird flu
3 hours ago -
More than 1 in 4 children under age 5 face 'severe' food poverty: UNICEF
3 hours ago