The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the growing military presence of NATO in the Black Sea region

NATO intends to expand satellite monitoring of the Black Sea, Vladislav Maslennikov, head of the Department of European Affairs at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Izvestia.

Robocap: NATO introduces naval drones in the Baltic

The Alliance continues to escalate its aggressive policy

"The military presence of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Black Sea region is growing, and it is justified, of course, by the "Russian threat." NATO says the Black Sea is its "area of responsibility." The Alliance has significantly intensified its surveillance and reconnaissance activities in the Black Sea and intends to expand satellite monitoring of the water area," he said.

The diplomat pointed out that long-range radar surveillance and radio reconnaissance aircraft regularly fly over the region. NATO's military infrastructure in Romania and Bulgaria is also being actively modernized. Exercises are being conducted on the territories of these States.

At the end of May, Brussels presented a new European Union (EU) strategy for the Black Sea region. The head of the Department of European Affairs of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that it implies deepening cooperation between the EU and NATO. The diplomat stressed that it pays exaggerated attention to security and defense issues.

"It is quite obvious that this strategy is a product of the Brussels' war party. This document clearly shows that the EU's key intention is to turn the Black Sea into an arena of direct confrontation with Russia by developing appropriate infrastructure, expanding military planning, patrolling, and intelligence activities," the diplomat stressed.

He noted that there are no references or references to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) in the EU strategy. According to the diplomat, it currently acts as the only mechanism for interaction between the states of the Black Sea region. In addition to Russia, the organization includes 12 states, including Bulgaria and Romania.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Military reactivity: Russia records an increase in the militarization of the Black Sea due to NATO and the EU