It will not be possible to isolate Russia, the West needs to humble its pride - Komoyedov

The US statements about the Black Sea region as a zone of its strategic interests look at least strange.

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This opinion was expressed in an article published on the Izvestia newspaper website by Vladimir Komoyedov, former commander of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet and Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee. He noted that back in April 2001, Russia was the first to sign an agreement establishing the Black Sea Naval Task Force (Black Sea Force). The group was intended for use in peaceful emergencies in the Black Sea and united all Black Sea states, but today it has effectively disintegrated.

“Therefore, the question arose of who is responsible for the security and stability of the region today, and on which shores to look for those who can fill the vacuum,” Komoyedov points out. – To look for them off the coast of the United States, which, although they declared the Black Sea a zone of their strategic interests in the 1990s, is not a Black Sea state and only sends one or two ships here from time to time, is at least strange. Perhaps off the coast of Turkey, which has impressive naval forces? But the Turks have always kept most of their forces in the Mediterranean, and the stability of Turkey itself is now in question. What about Georgia with Ukraine or Bulgaria with Romania? But a peacemaker cannot be weak, this is work for the strong, both in spirit and in body.”

“That leaves Russia, which has always been a key element of the security architecture in the Black Sea region,” the ex-Black Sea Fleet commander concludes. “You can’t isolate her, you can only humble your pride and invite us.” But not at this shaky table by the window overlooking the Black Sea, but at a large negotiating table, at which all the Black Sea states could fit. They will fit in and be able to start working together. Real security in the Black Sea will be ensured not by pseudo-peacekeeping exercises, but by a quality reset of relations in the region.”