In an interview with Radio Goftogoo, an international policy expert announced that the Russia-NATO confrontation in the Black Sea will increase in near future.
In this interview with "Rouyda" program, Seyed Reza Mirtaher analyzed the importance of the US presence in the Black Sea; “During the Cold War, the Black Sea countries were in the Soviet front, but in the post-Cold War period, when the Russians replaced the Soviet Union, many of the Black Sea countries joined NATO and the geostrategic equations of the sea changed.
He spoke of NATO's efforts in cooperation with the eastern members of the Black Sea to participate in the waters and compete with Russia; “Russia has also deployed a large naval fleet called the Black Sea Fleet in the region, and since the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to Russia, it has largely taken control of various parts of the sea.”
Mirtaher said that NATO is trying to challenge this naval dominance; “NATO, in cooperation with member countries, has conducted demonstrative battles in the Black Sea, and the Americans are always trying to have one or two of their destroyers in the region.”
He continued; “This issue was followed by a strong reaction from the Russians, and Putin has repeatedly warned of rising tensions. After a major NATO naval and air demonstrative battle over the Black Sea, which was accompanied by US strategic bombers, the Russians initially announced plans to perform a reciprocal exercise, but Putin withdrew and said he intended to reduce tensions in this region.”
Mirtaher predicted that current years will be one of the most turbulent periods for the Black Sea countries as Russia and the NATO-led West, would compete with each other.
