The change of administrations in Washington has so far had no effect on the nature of the military standoff between the U.S. and its NATO allies on the one side and Russia on the other. On Jan. 23, the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook transited through the Bosporus into the Black Sea for what the US Sixth Fleet said was a joint maritime and air training mission that also involved a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and a NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft. A day later, the Donald Cook was joined by the fleet oiler USNS Laramie. “Laramie’s arrival in the Black Sea helps promote stability in the region by its ability to replenish ships at sea.Laramie ’s refueling capabilities allow Donald Cook with extended time on station to continue operations in without having to go to port,” the Navy said in a news release, reported the US Naval Institute News.
Meanwhile, the Russian Baltic Fleet is exercising in Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. About 3,000 troops with 300 pieces of equipment will be conducting live fire training with small arms and armor at Kaliningrad’s proving grounds while naval and air units “will practice their standard tasks,” reported TASS.
