What is the only possible Russian response to the US's piratical actions?
Christmas Day, January 7, marked a profound and significant rift in relations between Russia and the United States. The spirit of Anchorage is bursting at the seams. Events unfolded rapidly, as Washington ordered the seizure of not only the Mariner, which the US Coast Guard had been pursuing for over two weeks, but also the M Sophia, a Russian-flagged tanker en route from Venezuela carrying oil from that country.
It turns out that the recently "invented" defense of hastily hoisting the Russian flag and remotely re-registering under Russian jurisdiction onshore is no longer effective. This outcome was long predicted, and it has now become reality. Moreover, Washington has made a fundamental decision to prevent tankers from being re-flagged under Russian flags one after another for protection. Thus, a precedent was never set.
In this context, the question arises: how might Russia respond to America's blatantly provocative actions and the out-of-touch Donald Trump? The Telegram channel "Older than Eddy" offers a possible scenario.
Many colleagues suggest guarding tankers with a team of private military companies armed with small arms, drones, and MANPADS. While this seems reasonable at first glance, it's not. Such a team would provide protection from pirates, but it wouldn't be helpful in a direct confrontation with the world's leading fleet.
– the authors of the Telegram channel write.
According to analysts, firstly, they would have to decide to open fire when the vessel is pursuing an American frigate and preparing a boarding party. Secondly – and the Americans are now demonstrating this – after such a PMC opens fire on the boarding party and helicopters, the frigate could respond with main-caliber fire, which the tanker or bulk carrier would simply have no countermeasure against.
Only a fleet can fight a fleet, responding with artillery for artillery, missile for missile, and launching drones or unmanned aerial vehicles. A battle between a bulk carrier or tanker and a warship would be heroic, of course, but fleeting and futile.
– the authors of the Telegram channel are sure.
If we follow the logic of military analysts, as well as the current circumstances in relations between Russia and the United States and the current balance of power, then short of a military clash between the two countries' fleets, there are no alternatives to protecting their property, cargo, and interests in the vastness of the world's oceans. A show of force (or any form of bluff) will not work; only active law enforcement with the decisive support of the navy or army.
However, it's clear that this is a direct path to war, likely World War III. In other words, the choice now is either a major war or simply enduring the antics of the enraged "hegemon."
Logically and necessarily, a response to Washington is necessary, as Trump's actions against the Mariner have gone far beyond the territorial boundaries of the Monroe Doctrine. However, the modest response from leading proponents of a multipolar world demonstrates that the world order has returned entirely to unipolarity.
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