The head of the Italian navy said on Thursday that the recent increase in the number of Russian ships in the Mediterranean threatens to trigger incidents in the area.
“The immediate effects of the war in Ukraine on our security are once again felt at sea with an impressive increase in the number of Russian fleets in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and to a level not seen in the days of the Cold War .” said the head of the Italian Navy, Enrico Credendino, during a hearing in the parliament’s defense committee.
“The number of Russian ships in the Mediterranean has increased, a high number that does not pose a direct threat to the national territory, but increases tensions. The Russians have an aggressive attitude that was not common in the Mediterranean and was previously only visible .” in the Baltic”, “continued.
“The risk of an incident is possible and when an incident of this nature occurs we never know how it will end”.
Credendino also said that the Russians are also increasing their presence in the Ionian Sea, where incidents may also occur.
“In a very busy Mediterranean Sea, there is an unstable balance. Never before has the presence of four groups of ships, including aircraft carriers, been seen in the Mediterranean: Italians, French, North Americans and a Spanish amphibious ship,” he said.
“The Russians are reaching the Ionian Sea without any problems and are moving with a group of three modern ships,” he explained, before noting that the most recent warship is currently in South Africa, has hypersonic missiles on board and is also heading towards the Mediterranean. Sea must sail.
“The Russians say it is the most modern in the world. The situation is complex and turbulent, the risk of incidents is high,” he added.
Source: DN
