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NATO steps up monitoring of
Russia
Thomas Harding and David Blair
London
Telegraph
Thursday Aug 23, 2007
NATO vessels are
closely monitoring the sea trials of Russia's latest submarine,
following Moscow's increasingly provocative tests of Western airspace.
In the latest twist to worsening East-West relations, Nato submarines
and surface ships, which may include Royal Navy vessels, are trying
to gather information on the new Amur class boat being tested
in the Baltic.
The greater-than-normal scrutiny is, in part, a response to Russia's
decision to resume long-range bomber flights close to Nato airspace
which has revived memories of Cold War confrontation between the
two blocs.
Twice this summer, Russian Tu-95 nuclear bombers have been spotted
heading towards British airspace off Scotland, prompting the RAF
to send intercepting aircraft to warn them off.
(Article continues below)
On another occasion, Russian planes came within striking distance
of the US Pacific airbase of Guam.
Yesterday, Russian airforce spokesman Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky
insisted there was no provocative intent.
"Our pilots never violate foreign airspace and their actions
have no aggression against other countries," he said.
"The long-range aircraft [off Scotland] were on a scheduled
mission over international waters. We have made prior announcements
of all flights. There is no sabre-rattling involved."
The Amur class submarine being studied by Nato can test the alliance's
ability to defend territorial waters in much the same way that
bomber flights can test its ability to defend airspace.
The vessel is an extremely stealthy model, capable of striking
surface targets with torpedoes or missiles.
Apart from the threat it poses as part of the Russian navy, Moscow
is believed to have won contracts to export it to other states
such as Venezuela, which is challenging the United States' influence
in Latin America.
Russia also exports weapons to Iran and Sudan, although there
is no sign yet that either country plans to buy an Amur class
submarine.
The fact that President Vladimir Putin's regime is testing a
powerful new addition to the Russian navy - after its fleet went
through years of decline - shows a new military build-up is underway.
Russia's neighbour Georgia claimed yesterday that it, too, was
being intimidated by Moscow.
Russian jets, the government said, had twice entered its airspace
this week. Earlier this month, a Russian warplane had fired a
missile at a village on its territory.
But Russia protested its innocence yesterday, accusing Georgia
of inventing the charge to stir up tensions. Vitaly Churkin, Russia's
ambassador to the United Nations, said that the bomb fragments
produced as evidence were of foreign origin.
This meant they could not have been used in a Russian missile,
he claimed, adding that Russian pilots were even prohibited from
wearing Swiss-made watches.
But Merab Antadze, Georgia's deputy foreign minister, said this
kind of disinformation was a typical tactic of the Kremlin.
"It is very well known to all that this old form of shameless
Soviet diplomacy continues," he said.
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