On November 24, Russian and American maritime ships came very close. Russian navy chased U.S destroyer in the Sea of Japan also known as the East sea. The U.S. claimed it was conducting a “freedom of navigation” operation in the largest bay in the sea, Peter the Great Bay. An area both countries long disputed about, U.S long denying the claim of Moscow over the territory.
Russian officials declared that the U.S. has sailed beyond its maritime boarders by 2km before being warned by the Russian vessel “the Admiral Vinogradov”[1]. And warned the U.S. through communication channels that such actions could lead to a possibility of maneuvering.
The U.S. destroyer “USS John McCain” had then changed routes after the Vinogradov turned towards McCain according to the Russian Defense. However, the U.S fleet declared that MacCain has operated within international law boundaries and that Russia claimed the area to be internal waters in 1984 illegally.
Is this an indicator for deviating relations between the two countries? Does this have any implications towards the new administration coming in January? I guess we will have to wait and see.
[1]https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-chases-u-s-warship-spat-over-territorial-waters-sea-n1248759
Fatema,
Yes, I saw this news item as well. It’s hard to know what to make of it. Russia may be using some of the same tactics as the Chinese have been using in the South China Sea–i.e., claiming certain ocean waters as part of their territory when they are really international waters. And it is true that the US Navy, which is by far the largest “blue water” navy in the world, periodically does conduct Freedom of Navigation exercises for this very reason to make clear that the US does not recognize such illegal territorial claims. But that said, the timing of this incident IS suspicious, coming just as the Trump administration is preparing to leave office (we hope). I don’t think either government wants this to escalate into a more serious problem at the moment; but as you indicated, “we shall have to wait and see.” –Professor Wallerstein