US-led "Sea Breeze 2014" and Rapid Trident in Ukraine aim at more than containing Russia | nsnbc international

Fahwad al-Khadoumi (nsnbc) : The U.S.-led, Ukraine-hosted Sea Breeze 2014 Black Sea naval exercise with participation of NATO, was initiated on Monday. U.S., Ukrainian, Georgian, Turkish, Romanian, Canadian and Spanish vessels and forces participate in the drill that aims at more than “containing” Russia and testing international forces “inter-operability”. The naval drill will be followed up by NATO’s Rapid Trident exercise in Ukraine.

The Sea Breeze 2014 opening ceremony took place on the flag-ship of the exercise, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) on September 8. Speaking at the opening ceremony was the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Serhiy Hayduk, sying:

“I believe the Sea Breeze exercise will be the next step in increasing stability and building relationships and understanding with all of the participating nations and will be the hope for the future”.

No U.S. or NATO ships will dock in Ukrainian ports during the Sea Breeze 2014 drills reported the Russian Ria-Novosti news agencyy. The news agency reports that the fact that no U.S. or NATO ships dock in Ukrainian ports in terms of a “concession” from the side of NATO, considering the volatility of the situation in Ukraine.

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