I wrote an article on the return of the cold war over at iNorden some time ago, even though the matter has had me worried for quite some time, really, and honestly, recent developments give plenty of cause for concern. In today’s New York Times there’s a brief account on Russia’s deployment of warships in South American waters, we’re beginning to get an impression of what’s actually taking place:
The convoy – including the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Peter the Great and the anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko – left the fleet’s base in Severomorsk bound for the Venezuelan coast, where the ships will take part in joint maneuvers with the Venezuelan Navy sometime in November, said Igor Dygalo, a Russian Navy spokesman.
And:
[...] Last week, two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers flew to Venezuela for exercises over the Caribbean Sea, and a Russian delegation led by Igor I. Sechin, a deputy prime minister and chairman of the Russian oil company Rosneft, visited Caracas and Havana for talks on expanding economic ties. It was Mr. Sechin’s second visit to the region in less than two months.
If you mean to tell me that we haven’t seen the return of the cold war, I’m afraid you’ll find it difficult to persuade me.
[...] The decision to deploy Russian warships so close to the American coastline could also be linked to the Kremlin’s frustration over the presence of NATO and American naval vessels in the Black Sea, a region Moscow considers its sphere of influence. Earlier this month, an American naval ship delivered humanitarian aid to Georgia in one of the country’s Black Sea ports.
The Russians may well be right in claiming that this is nothing to do with the recent conflict with Georgia (and, therefore, with the West). If it does not, it only means that the Russians were about to build up military strength anyway, including a very harsh tone against the EU and, especialy, the USA.
Not sure if that’s more reassuring.
We’ve had Russian bombers and warships patroling just outisde Norwegian waters for the last year or so, and I have to tell you: Those of us who experienced the cold war up close aren’t too comfortable with current goings on.
It would seem that Norwegian media have picked up on the issue (in Norwegian), too. Being among Russia’s closest neighbours just isn’t very fun these days.
