WASHINGTON, the USA (BulgarianMilitary.com) – The Russia-Ukraine tensions led to lots of reactions over the recent days, one of which is the move of the USA to send a warship to the Black Sea as announced yesterday (5th December 2018), learned BulgarianMilitary.com

Read more: Kerch Strait Incident Resulted in Court Orders and International Criticism

For that purpose the U.S. military has requested from the U.S. State Department to notify Turkey about its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea in response to Russia’s actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait (a connection between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov) on 25th Novemebr 2018 as reported by three U.S. officials to CNN. The notification is a requirement under the Montreux Convention – a 1936 treaty, which governs the passage of military vessels through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, which connect the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The treaty says that countries, which do not have a coastline on the Black Sea, shall give Turkey a notice at least 15 days before transiting the straits.

Read more: Russian-Ukrainian Tensions Escalate after Kerch Strait Incident

Two of the officials explained that the notification would be requested in order the U.S. Navy to have the option of sailing a warship into the area. However, that option would not be selected by all means.

“The United States carries out its activities consistent with the terms of the Montreux Convention. We will not, however, comment on the nature of our diplomatic correspondence with the Government of Turkey,” commented a U.S. State Department spokesman.

In accordance with the rules of the Montreux Convention, U.S. vessels can remain in the Black Sea for twenty-one days.

The fast transport ship USNS Carson City was the last U.S. ship to enter the Black Sea in October this year and the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, left the Black Sea at the end of August 2018.

Read more: Russia’s Foreign Minister Says Ukraine Won’t Conduct NATO Military Drills in the Sea of Azov

Cdr. Kyle Raines, a spokesman for the U.S. 6th Fleet, which oversees naval operations in the region, said that the Fleet is “always prepared to respond where called” and added “We routinely conduct operations to advance security and stability throughout the US 6th Fleet area of operations to include the international waters and airspace of the Black Sea. We reserve the right to operate freely in accordance with international laws and norms.”

Another reaction on the part of the U.S. Navy is also from Wednesday when the U.S. Navy sailed the guided missile destroyer USS McCampbell near contested waters in the Sea of Japan.

The U.S. Navy Lt. Rachel McMarr, a spokesperson for the US Pacific Fleet, explained in a statement to CNN that the USS “McCampbell sailed in the vicinity of Peter the Great Bay to challenge Russia’s excessive maritime claims and uphold the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea enjoyed by the United States and other Nations.”

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Source: CNN