American media publishes an interview with the commander of the 6th US Navy Fleet Vice Admiral Gene Black (Gene Black). An essential part of the interview is devoted to the Sea Breeze-2021 exercises, which recently took place on the Black Sea, and in which American warships took part. American journalists asked the Vice Admiral, Is it in the US interest to cooperate militarily with countries, who are not members of NATO.
American military commander said, that cooperation with Ukraine is in the interests of the United States. According to him, the presence of US Navy ships in the Black Sea does not go beyond international conventions.
Gene Black:
We are present in the Black Sea, to cooperate with our partners and show, what are we capable of. We must take steps, that would strengthen the power of our alliance, interact at a higher level. All this will allow you to send a signal to any enemy, scare him away.
According to the commander of the 6th Fleet of the US Navy, Sea Breeze-2021 exercises took place in international waters:
Neither side, did not participate in the exercises, had no right to interfere.
According to Black, The United States demonstrates support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine "including on the issue of the status of the Crimean Peninsula".
Gene Black:
That is why we are here. We operate in international waters there, where we want and when we want.
Journalists asked Vice Admiral Black about his attitude to the reaction from Russia to the passage of NATO warships near the Crimean coast.
Gene Black:
I think, it was a serious message from the alliance. Our actions are transparent. We perform, as I already said, for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. And that, what other countries are doing in this regard, good visibility.
According to US Vice Admiral, 6 the US Navy fleet has several task forces, who are ready to defend US interests in the area of responsibility in any operational situation.
used photos:Facebook/USS Higgins (DDG 76)
