NATO could respond to Russian maritime escalations in Black Sea
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe James Stavridis has warned that Russia risks triggering a direct conflict with NATO by intercepting vessels in international waters and attempting to assert economic control over Ukraine, according to digi24.ro.
Stavridis told Politico that maritime escalations, such as the recent incident involving a Turkish vessel, could push Kiev's partners to intervene to prevent the paralysis of Ukraine's economy.
On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that Russia had fired warning shots before approaching the Sukru Okan, a cargo ship flying the Palauan flag, which the Ukrainian Foreign Minister identified as Turkish.
Stavridis criticised the Russian manoeuvre as "tantamount to piracy," asserting that the Kremlin is intensifying efforts to undermine trade between Ukraine and the rest of Europe.
"If Russia begins to seize ships or attempts to intimidate them, I think it's likely that NATO would respond by supporting a humanitarian corridor for maritime transport," Stavridis stated. "The alliance could safeguard vessels travelling to and from the Ukrainian port of Odessa "with NATO fighter aircraft overhead and potentially NATO warships as an escort."
Stavridis argued that support from NATO coastal members of the Black Sea, specifically Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria, would mean that the "Russian fleet in the Black Sea would be outmatched militarily."
Turkey has urged Russia to return to the grain agreement, and the country's National Security Council stated that tensions in the Black Sea are "not in anyone's interest." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is slated to meet with Vladimir Putin at the end of the month, with grain trade likely on the agenda.
