In Geopolitics Today - Thursday, August 26th
United States Conducts Naval Exercise Across Two Oceans and Turkey’s Continues Balancing Act Between Ukraine and Russia
United States Conducts Naval Exercise Across Two Oceans
The United States Navy has concluded the largest maritime military exercise since the Cold War this week. The Large Scale Exercise 2021 involved more than 20,000 sailors and marines, and five fleets spread across two vast oceans. The US Navy plans to conduct military exercises at such a scale every three years, with increasing participation of international partners.
The head of Fleet Forces Command, Admiral Christopher Grady, said that the US Navy has “shifted focus from the individual Carrier Strike Group to a larger fleet-centric approach.” The exercise is unique as it integrates operations between fleets separated by vast geographic distances, sharing sensors data across all domains in real-time. Grady explained that the intention of this and future ‘Large Scale Exercises’ is to challenge the abilities of the fleet commanders to “make decisions at a speed and accuracy that outpaces the adversaries.”
The US Navy is using the exercises to learn, rehearse, and prepare for a potential conflict with China and Russia simultaneously. The exercise focused around adapting to fight against China in East Asia and the Pacific Ocean, while maintaining sufficient operability in the Atlantic to deter Russia. US defence planners are reportedly worried that a conflict with either power is likely to lead to a scenario where the other takes opportunistic advantage. China and Russia have strengthen their defence and trade ties recently, and both do increasingly coordinate where their interests align, but they are not yet formal allies.
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Turkey’s Continues Balancing Act Between Ukraine and Russia
Turkey maintains a delicate balancing act in its relations with Ukraine and Russia. Ankara openly supports Ukraine, and expresses particular cultural and ethnic affinity for the Crimean Tartars. But Turkey do so with care and diligence, as it has to maintain a complex relationship with Russia all while it encroaches on Moscow’s own interests.
Ties between Ukraine and Turkey continue to flourish. In April, the Turkish President signed a 20-point declaration in support of Ukraine, reiterating firm support for Ukraine to be incorporated into NATO. After conducting multiple deals involving shipping and drone deliveries since then, Turkey is now sending Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to attend the first Crimean Platform Summit. Cavusoglu told reporters before the summit commenced that Turkey has “never recognized the illegal annexation of Crimea,” and Turkey seems determined to dispute Russian claims to Crimea while deepening engagement with Ukraine.
Much of the statements emphasised both nations’ cultural and historical links with the Crimean Tatar peoples living in Crimea, an ethnic group which makes up roughly 13 percent of Crimea’s total population. The summit also called for Crimea to be returned to Ukraine as well as for the “de-occupation" of the Donbas. But while deepening ties with Kiev, Ankara at the same time continues to maintain ties with Moscow, whether that be by coordinating military action in Syria or purchasing the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft weapon system.
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