InfoBrics
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
In a joint statement between NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the latter announced last Thursday that the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna is a willing new home of NATO’s Naval Force Coordination Center. NATO’s Maritime Headquarters is currently located in the United Kingdom, but Stoltenberg thanked his Bulgarian counterpart for its “strong commitment” and “strong focus” on so-called “Black Sea security.” By Black Sea security, it was of course meant that they want to contain Russia.
As revealed by Stoltenberg, “NATO as an alliance has stepped up our presence in the Black Sea region, in the air, on land, but also at sea, with also more naval exercises.” The potential establishment of a NATO Coordination Center on the Black Sea is an obvious attempt by the U.S.-led NATO to duplicate infrastructure and missile systems in the region aimed against Russia and is accelerating because of NATO’s complex relations with Turkey. Given that they cannot control the Black Sea region on their own because of the complex geopolitical situation, a NATO presence in Varna is very important as it is close to Russia’s ports and Ukraine, in which the latter can be used provocatively.
However, as NATO is aimed against Russia, Bulgaria now risks becoming a legitimate target for Russian strategic forces. NATO hopes that by using Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Georgia, all Black Sea countries, Russia can be contained in the event that Turkey truly becomes rogue against the alliance and does not block Russia from leaving the Black Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles. These strategic straits are crucial for Russia’s maritime trade, and it is expected by NATO that Turkey would block these water lanes in the event of a hypothetical war against the Eurasian Giant.
NATO is working closely with Georgia that has openly announced its desires to join NATO and is well on the path of becoming a member. On the opposite side of the Black Sea and neighboring Bulgaria to the north is Romania, whose air bases, are for U.S. use. In Ukraine, an American center was built, which is basically a military base. Bulgaria’s latest desire for American servitude shows that Washington’s interests are through all NATO structures in all countries in the Black Sea region, besides Turkey. Although Turkey has mostly been a loyal NATO member, its recent independent policies under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has caused worry and angst with leading NATO countries.
The 1936 Montreux Convention, which gives Turkey control of passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, regulates the transit of naval warships, but also guarantees the passage of civilian ships during peacetime. Because of that convention and complicated relations with Turkey, the possibility of a large number of U.S. warships being passed through is precluded. For these reasons, Washington are looking for ways to destroy that convention.
The truth remains that only Turkey and Greece have the potential capability to block Russia in the Black Sea. It is for this reason that the U.S. has turned to Greece as a Plan B. Although It may appear at first that the combined strength of Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Georgia could be enough to contain Russia in the Black Sea, their combined navies actually do not have the strength to challenge Russia in the Black Sea without the participation of Turkey. However, Russia still faces significant problems as not only it can be opposed in the Black Sea, but Russia will still have to navigate into the Greek-controlled Aegean Sea. Any full NATO participation against Russia in the Black Sea region will be highly problematic for Moscow.
Therefore, with Bulgaria’s continued submission into NATO interests, Russia will be forced to identify all of these facilities in Bulgaria, as well as Romania and other countries, as legitimate military targets as the U.S. and NATO have already put Russia in an unenviable position.
It remains to be seen how the general Bulgarian people view these latest provocations considering that the root of Bulgarian independence from the Ottoman yolk was only achieved because of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) and there is still strong Orthodox solidarity. However, with Bulgaria willingly wanting to open a NATO Naval Center on its territory, and the country’s political establishment being controlled by Atlanticists, it is unlikely that Bulgaria will retract from its anti-Russian agenda anytime soon. Regardless, the opening of a NATO Naval Command Center on the Black Sea will be a serious concern and one that Moscow’s policymakers must immediately consider.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Bulgaria was always the most compliant Soviet puppet, doing much of its dirty work abroad. Now it’s just switched tailors but still wears the same old suit of clothes.
And Bulgaria supported fascism in WWII.
Like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania they all were full blown NAZI collaborators + accomplices in their crimes…until the USSR stopped it for good.
Moscow is “in an unenviable position.” Russia no longer has the buffer zone it had after world war II. Without a cordon sanitaire any nation will fill insecure and under existential threat. This is creating the ideal conditions for world war III. But western capitals do not seem to appreciate this, and how close to the precipice we are.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
The Western capitals don’t mind causing trouble at Russia’s doorstep .They should remember what president Putin said when he told the press referring to US :
“We have no concept of a preemptive strike,”
” “In such a situation, we expect to be struck by nuclear weapons, but we will not use them” first, he said.”
“The aggressor will have to understand that retaliation is inevitable, that it will be destroyed and that we, as victims of aggression, as martyrs, will go to heaven.”
“They will simply die because they won’t even have time to repent,”
“Certainly, it would be a global disaster for humanity; a disaster for the entire world,” Putin said“as a citizen of Russia and the head of the Russian state I must ask myself: Why would we want a world without Russia?”
You’re quite right! The western capitals SHOULD remember what Putin declared a few months ago about the fact that 27,000,000 Russians, military and civilians, were killed by the Nazi during WWII, and that any attempt to attack Russia again will trigger an automatic NUCLEAR response on a big scale… The way the US of Aggression is going under Trump and the Bolted-On Mustache and followers, it’s to wonder how long it will take for the said next major war to start and destroy this only planet. I wouldn’t be surprised if I learned that some nuclear subs have exploded near… Read more »
Put an end to all this bloody war mongering!!! Russia this, Russia that, Russia the other…while it is the West that keeps waging wars all over the planet.
Vera,
It’s the West indeed, but mainly under the CONTROL of the United States of Aggression. The greatest terrorist country since the end of WWII.
How many American rape apes do these countries want to import? Oh, got it! The Jews will pay any amount to get even for the Pale of Settlement.
Bulgaria has been a conduit if not a mfg.of arms / missiles to the jihadists on the ground in Syria .Their hands are bloodied by the process .
Russia would do well do consider making this proposed military base by NATO , a target in case of hostilities breaking out .As I am sure they will.
I find it ignorant of the NATO lackeys ,in not connecting the dots should hostilities break out .When you make yourself a target ,you should not complain if and when you get to be a target.
The SAA and the Russians found plenty of brand new weapons ‘Made in Bulgaria’ in Syria, seized from all terrorist factions.
Nato has to go. The world will be much better off without it. It causes nothing but global mayhem.
Start with having the US of Aggression to go. That is impossible now, and I’m afraid it will remain impossible for decades if we’re really unlucky… Neutralize the USA, and NATO will have to drop its menacing of the whole planet.
It’s at least 30 years overdue!
For those warning about WW3. WW3 was fought in a non-conventional manner during the Cold War, and though the yanks had many defeats, the USSR lost that war. WW3 was lost by Russia. That’s the truth. Deal with it. It’s still unclear if Putin’s regime will last after he retires. That’s the real test. I hope Russia doesn’t devolve to the days of Yeltin.
“I hope Russia doesn’t devolve to the days of Yeltsin.”
Well, if it does, the US already beat it to it.
Idiots!
Any discussion of a protracted conventional war between NATO and Russia is absolute nonsense. Such a conflict would escalate to a nuclear exchange, probably in hours. Which is why it cannot happen in the first place. NATO has one purpose … to enrich the leaders of the ‘War Party’ … military contractors, think-tank members, leadership of the various militaries, politicians, etc. … all the people who depend on the threat of War for their livelihood.