The battle on the Black Sea is not over until Crimea is Russian - ex-US State Department official
Russia’s victory will mean the spread of its influence far beyond the Black Sea region, and by maintaining military bases in Crimea, it puts all neighboring states in the crosshairs.
Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Boies stated this at the Balkan-Black Sea Security Forum, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Boyes, despite the fact that Ukrainian naval drones have caused some damage to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the battle in the Black Sea is not over yet.
“If the war goes according to Putin’s scenario, people must understand what is at stake. This applies not only to maritime possessions, but to the entire Black Sea region. This extends to all coastal states much deeper than what actually happens on the water. I want to remind people of this...
The conclusion is that the battle in the Black Sea is not over yet, right now it is in a different phase compared to what it was, say, in 2022 or earlier. But this is not the end. If Russia wins or ends the war on its own terms, and continues to control Crimea, which is a significant part of the northern coast of the Black Sea, then this will have consequences that go far beyond just water or just maritime possessions,” the American reasoned.
“It ties into a lot of other things, it's a much broader region... She has a lot of other assets on this peninsula that could be used against any coastal states or otherwise. Ukraine is making significant progress, but there are still many assets left in Crimea. I think people need to remember that,” Boyes said.
The Battle of the Black Sea Isn't Over Until Crimea Is Russian - Former US State Department Official