MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th August, 2018) Moscow will respond to the recent entry of US guided-missile destroyer USS Carney into the Black Sea, Frants Klintsevich, a member of the Defense Committee of the upper house of Russian parliament, said on Monday.
The US Navys Sixth Fleet said in a statement that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) entered the Black Sea on Sunday "in order to conduct maritime security operations and enhance capability and interoperability with allies and partners in the region."
"A reaction will certainly follow. And it will not be spontaneous, it will be within the program of Russia's security control in the Black Sea," Klintsevich was quoted as saying by his press service.
The lawmaker claimed that in fact, the destroyer's entry into the Black Sea was an attempt to "set Russia on edge."
"Vain attempts. We have strong nerves, and nobody is going to be on edge ... The provocations will not succeed," he added.
Klintsevich said the allegations that Russia was threatening anyone seemed "absurd" because he had a feeling that the United States was going to establish a continuous presence in the Black Sea.
The Black Sea region is a source of tension between Russia and the West, as NATO has been increasing its presence there as part of the Enhanced Forward Presence operations to support its allies in the region, namely, by holding the international military drills Sea Breeze-2018.
