Patriots and friends,
how would we feel if the Russians or Chinese were building a naval operations center in Windsor, Canada? I would surmise that most Americans would be upset.
Why do we keep poking the "Bear" with a stick? Now read the story below.
The US Navy has launched construction of a
maritime operations center in Ukraine which will serve as a “major planning and
operation hub” during military exercises hosted by the country.
“Seabees [US Naval
Construction Battalions] held a groundbreaking ceremony for a maritime operations
center on Ochakov Naval Base, Ukraine, July 25,” the US Navy said in
a statement released on Monday.
Ochakov is located on the far upper right below the city of Mykolayiv on the map below.
The Seabees have been in Ochakov since April
to establish contracts, obtain construction permits, and perform other
logistical tasks for the maritime operations center project, the Navy said.
The maritime operations center is one of three
projects that the Seabees will execute in Ochakov.
“Beginning construction in
Ukraine is a significant accomplishment,” Lt.
j.g. (junior grade) Jason McGee, officer in charge of Det. Ukraine said.
“Our ability to maximize
European reassurance initiatives in Ukraine holds strategic importance, and
will ultimately improve host nation defense capacity and infrastructure,
strengthen relations and increase bilateral training capabilities,” he added.
The Seabees are also set to build a boat
maintenance facility and entry control points with perimeter fencing in
Ochakov.
Last month, several US missile warships, over
800 sailors, and a Navy SEALs team took part in the 12-day Sea Breeze 2017
joint NATO naval exercise off Ukraine. The multinational war games took place
in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, near the Ukrainian port city of
Odessa.
The Sixth Fleet said in a press release that the US Navy sent the USS Hue
City Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser and the USS Carney Arleigh
Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, along with a P-8A Poseidon patrol
aircraft.
Moscow has long objected to NATO’s
large-scale war games near the Russian border, which intensified after the
March 2014 referendum in which Crimea voted for reunification with Russia.
In late June, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the
Alliance’s provocative actions “raise mutual suspicions and push us
[Russia] to undertake retaliatory measures, mainly in the western strategic
direction.”
On July 13, Russian permanent representative
to NATO Alexander Grushko said that NATO activities in eastern Europe “not
only ensure a reinforced military presence of the allies in the immediate
vicinity of Russia’s borders but in fact represent an intensive mastering of
the potential theater of military operations.”
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