Russia (Washington Insider Magazine) – – In an attempt to thwart invasion from Russian forces and citing concerns over Russia’s continued threat to international law, Republican reps Mike Rogers and Mike Turner compel U.S. President Joe Biden to deploy U.S. military presence to southeastern Europe – the
Black Sea.
“With the recent massing of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border, we urge your administration
to take immediate and swift action to provide support to Ukraine in the form of intelligence and
weapons,” Rogers, of Alabama, and Turner, of Ohio, said Friday in a letter to Biden, which was
obtained by Defense News. Rogers and Turner are ranking members of the House Armed
Services Committee and Strategic Forces Subcommittee.
“We also urge your administration to deploy a U.S. military presence in the Black Sea to deter a
Russian invasion,” the letter says, continuing that Biden’s administration “cannot ignore Russia’s
continued threat to international law and Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.”
The directive came as a result of Ukraine’s defense ministry claiming 90,000 Russian troops are
stationed near the Ukraine rebel-controlled borders. Commercial satellite images confirm a
considerable military personnel and equipment buildup that appears to have begun in the
spring. Among the armored units, tanks, and artillery are the elite 1st Guards Tank Army.
To counter Russia’s newfound military presence in the area, both Ukraine and Romania have
petitioned that Western allies amp up their own military presence in the Black Sea. Still, Ukraine
holds out for Washington’s backing for a NATO force on the Black Sea likened to its robust and
impenetrable Baltic Sea troops.
A handful of Republican lawmakers, including the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking
member, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., have taken to social media with grave concerns about the
assembling of Russian troops, imploring the Biden administration to act swiftly.
“Joe Biden served in the Senate for much of the Cold War—he should know Vladimir Putin
won’t stop his aggression until he is forced into a defensive posture by united Western
pressure,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tweeted on November 5.
Since the Biden administration allocated $60 million in military aid this past summer, Russia’s
military activity has strengthened. They entreated the administration to increase military aid to
Ukraine “to deter and repel a renewed Russian incursion.”
Even more concerning, Putin reportedly made remarks about the importance of adding Zircon
Hypersonic missiles to his navy arsenal in 2022 after a successful first test. Included in this
lineup, in what he calls an attempt to “further strengthen the security of the county,” are
high-powered lasers and robotic software with the potential to ward off potential military threats.
As tensions rise between Moscow and the west over the past year, Russian president Vladimir
Putin has been in reported discussions of Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO, after Defense
Secretary Lloyd Austin visited both locations last month. Romania has also come out in support
for Georgia and Ukraine’s goal to join NATO, despite strong opposition from Russia.
Ultimately, neither Austin nor NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced any
upcoming initiatives to increase military presence on the Black Sea.
