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| Photo: UMIT BEKTAS/REUTERS |
Region of conflict long overlooked by the West is drawing new U.S. attention
NATO bridges the Atlantic Ocean but the body of water drawing the most attention recently is on its eastern edge: the Black Sea.
Long a center of regional disputes, the sea has been the main theater for Russia’s war in Ukraine, since both countries border its north shore. The Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014 and protrudes far into the sea, is home to a significant Russian fleet.
Georgia, which Russia invaded in 2008, sits on its eastern edge. North Atlantic Treaty Organization members Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are on its western and southern coasts, with Turkey controlling the waterways linking it to the Mediterranean Sea. Fuel flows from the Caucasus and Central Asia to Europe and the world across and around the Black Sea.
When NATO foreign ministers meet in Romania’s capital on Tuesday, issues linked to Black Sea security will permeate the agenda, overtly or indirectly. Romania is hosting the meeting partly to draw more attention to the region.
Many politicians and geopolitical strategists in the U.S. and Europe say more attention is needed. The Black Sea’s strategic importance was included in NATO’s long-term strategy for the first time only at its annual summit in June, and at Romania’s initiative, noted Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday.
“The Black Sea is vital for NATO security given the physical confluence of so many allies, partners, and opponents—as well as rich hydrocarbon deposits, vital grain shipping lanes, and an active war in Ukraine,” said retired U.S. Adm. James Stavridis, who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander following the war in Georgia.
When Russia surprised much of the world with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, it sought to cordon off broad areas of the Black Sea, blocked Ukrainian ports—halting the country’s grain exports—and launched missiles at Odessa and other cities from warships. --->READ MORE HERE
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| Photo:kpszsu |
According to the military, Russian forces forward movement was stopped near Novoselivske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Serebrianks, Verkhniokamyanske, Bilohorivka, Yakovlivka, Pervomayske, Opytne, Nevelske and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast.
Additionally, in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian air defense is reported to have downed two enemy aircraft: Su-25 and Su-24.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Air Forces struck three concentrations of enemy manpower, weapons, and materiel.
Russian invasion forces carried out nine missile and 13 air strikes and fired over 50 shells from multiple rocket launcher systems against Ukrainian positions and settlements.
The General Staff also provided a general overview of the current situation on the battlefield:
- In the Volyn and Polisk areas, the situation hasn't changed notably, and there is no evidence of the presence of the enemy's offensive forces.
- In the Siversky area, invading forces conducted shelling with mortars and artillery near Senivka in Chernihiv Oblast, as well as near Seredyna Buda, Novovolodymyrivka and Rozhkovychi in Sumy Oblast.
- In the Slobozhanske area, areas in and around Strileche, Starytsia, Ohirtseve, Budarky, Chavunivka and Ambarne in Kharkiv Oblast were shelled with mortars and artillery.
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