OREANDA-NEWS. The experts of RAND Corporation, the American analytical center under the government, presented a report on the strategy of restraining Russia in the Black Sea. The document was prepared after a thematic seminar, which was held in Bucharest (Romania) at the end of March, and published on the official website of the organization.

The authors noted that the Black Sea region is a center of competition between Russia and the Western countries. An example is the exacerbation of tension in relations between Turkey with the United States and the European Union, which occurs because of the completion of the construction of the TurkStream gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in the south of the country. In addition, the experts remembered the activity of Moscow in the Sea of ​​Azov, where several ships were detained.

American analysts have expressed concern that Russia has recently modernized the Black Sea Fleet and has increased its strength in the Southern Military District.

The reaction, as the RAND experts believe, should be the development of a reliable deterrent system. According to them, the answer does not have to be equal and proportional to the actions of Russia. “Deployment of advanced air and coastal defense systems in Romania and Bulgaria to counter Russian offensive missile threats, expanded NATO exercises, and continued Western assistance to Ukraine and Georgia in the development of their national defense capabilities could enhance regional deterrence,” RAND Corporation resumed.

The matter of containing Russia in the Black Sea region was raised in April at the NATO North Atlantic Council. The member countries of the alliance agreed on some measures, which include support for Ukraine and Georgia: military exercises, information exchange, and calls at the ports in the region.