Russia Says to Respond to Entry of US Naval Vessel into Black Sea

Russia vowed to respond to a US ship's entry into the Black Sea with unspecified measures, warning that such move by US aimed at ratcheting up tensions ahead of a NATO summit.

Russian state media reported that the USS Porter, a US naval destroyer, entered the Black Sea a few days ago on a routine deployment.

Russian foreign ministry said the move raised hackles in Moscow because it had recently been fitted with a new missile system, the RIA news agency reported.

• US Navy officials told reporters on Wednesday the US military would also have two aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean this month ahead of a July NATO summit in Warsaw as Washington sought to balance Russian military activities.

"Of course, this does not meet with our approval and will undoubtedly lead to response measures," RIA cited Andrei Kelin, a senior Foreign Ministry official, as saying about the USS Porter's movements.

• He also said the deployment of US aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean was a show of force which in his view deepened a chill in ties between Moscow and Washington caused by Russia's actions in Ukraine and Syria.

"As regards the overall situation of course there is a definite increase and stoking of tensions in our relations," he was quoted as saying.

"It is all being done on the eve of the Warsaw NATO summit. It is a show of force."
Source: Agencies, almanar.com.lb
10/6/16
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