2024-10-04 19:23:39
Russia‘s actions in the Black Sea could lead to a full-scale war with NATO. In the event that a drifting mine damages or sinks a ship in NATO territorial waters, it may trigger a response under NATO Article 5.
British Royal Navy officer Tom Sharp writes about this in an article for The Telegraph.
After Ukrainian forces drove the Russian fleet out of the Black Sea, Russia began using mines to make it difficult to export Ukrainian grain. According to Sharp, the use of drift mines violates international norms and could provoke a conflict with NATO.
Sharp emphasizes that mines are one of the simplest and most effective naval weapons, as they are inexpensive, easy to manufacture and difficult to neutralize. International law, particularly the Hague Convention, requires that drifting mines must be rendered safe within an hour, and moored mines must be rendered safe within one hour if they become unmoored. Using mines to attack civilians is a violation.
However, the expert doubts that these rules apply to everyone. He believes that enemies such as Iran and Russia are planting mines and denying involvement, watching the consequences from afar.
The demining process is also challenging. Although some European navies have special forces for this, and many countries, including the United States, do not have sufficient resources. Sharp emphasizes that demining takes a long time and does not guarantee complete clearance of the area.
Incidents of mine explosions in the Black Sea have been rare, with experts citing incidents such as the sinking of the Estonian cargo ship MV Helt off Odessa and the damage to the Vyssos ship in the port of Izmail.
Sharp said Russia has a variety of ways to place mines in the Black Sea, including submarines and aircraft. The problem is that almost any ship can lay mines. He warns that Russia’s actions in this direction could not only violate international norms, but also provoke a direct conflict with NATO, given that Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania are members of the Alliance.
“If a drifting mine damages a ship in NATO territorial waters, this will become an Article 5 matter: Alliance members will be obliged to respond as if it were an attack on everyone,” the expert concludes.
Sharp believes it is only a matter of time before Russian mining leads to a serious incident that could escalate the situation.
Let us remind you that Kursasor wrote that in September the State Duma adopted a bill that allows defendants to be released from criminal liability if they sign a contract for military service. Previously, this measure was applied only to suspects and defendants at the pre-trial stage, as well as to convicted persons with sentences that had already entered into force.