{"id":5115,"date":"2021-11-08T05:23:39","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T05:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mediateka.online\/learnrussian\/russian-defense-minister-calls-constant-u-s-presence-in-black-sea-a-provocation.html"},"modified":"2021-11-08T05:23:39","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T05:23:39","slug":"russian-defense-minister-calls-constant-u-s-presence-in-black-sea-a-provocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mediateka.online\/learnrussian\/russian-defense-minister-calls-constant-u-s-presence-in-black-sea-a-provocation.html","title":{"rendered":"Russian Defense Minister Calls ‘Constant’ U.S. Presence In Black Sea A Provocation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called the constant presence of the U.S. Navy in the Black Sea a provocation after another ship entered the strategic waters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an almost constant attempt to test us, to check how ready we are, how much we have built the entire [defense] system off the Black Sea coast,\u201d Shoigu told state TV on November 7. <\/p>\n

Shoigu said other countries are doing it as well but did not name any nation in particular. Russia claimed in June that it fired warning shots at a British naval vessel that passed through Crimean waters.<\/p>\n

The Black Sea has become a hotspot in relations between the Kremlin and the West after Russia annexed Crimea, a move that gives it access to a long Black Sea coast.<\/p>\n

Most countries do not recognize Russia\u2019s annexation and continue to seek permission from Ukraine to traverse the waters near Crimea.<\/p>\n

Members of the U.S.-led military alliance, NATO, border the Black Sea, including Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. U.S.-friendly nations including Ukraine and Georgia also border the sea. <\/p>\n

The United States holds naval training exercises with allies and partners in the Black Sea and also regularly patrols the waters. <\/p>\n

Shoigu said Russia is keeping an eye on the USS Mount Whitney of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, which entered the Black Sea on November 4. <\/p>\n

The U.S. Navy said the USS Mount Whitney\u2019s operations in the Black Sea demonstrate U.S. and NATO\u2019s commitment to the region.<\/p>\n