Royal Navy shadows Russian ships after 'high activity' in Channel ( Archived) (41)

No the bog cleaner I had hundreds of toilet rolls in those days, a rich man

The Russian ships were actually in international waters. They had every right to be where they were. The Straits of Dover, the narrowest part of the Channel does, it’s true, lie wholly within the territorial waters of Britain and France, but there is a right of transit passage under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is of course a great pity that ships passing the Straits no longer have to dip their flag and lower their topsails in salute to the English, but times move on.

The truth of the matter is that the Russians, whether or not seven ships is ‘usual’ or ‘unusual’, weren’t doing anything wrong. If they had suddenly changed direction and started heading up the Thames, then of course it would be different, but they didn’t. So what’s the fuss?

I would have thought Russian and Chinese troops deployed to assist collection of all the dead bodies the crematoriums are unable to deal with would bring great joy to members of N.A.T.O alliance given that France, Italy and Germany fully intend to continue to purchase Russian gas and are not inclined to support purchase facilitating introduction of gas via pipeline carrying stolen gas from Syria that the UK would feel secure knowing that Russia and China are so willing to assist countries in your region !!

Everything you say is true, and common knowledge, but do you think the UK is going to keep it's eye off the ball so close to our country, no chance, and they know it.

Of course the UK, but there are quite a few aspects to the current trade war, including the call to arms by clown number one in the straits of Humus, then there is French nationalism e.g.
Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier docks at Limassol port
21 February 2020
THE COMPOSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER GROUP

On departure from Toulon, the air and naval group was composed of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, the on-board air group, the multi-mission frigate (FREMM) Auvergne, the air defense frigate (FDA) Chevalier Paul, the command and supply ship (BCR) Var, the Greek frigate HS Spetsai and a nuclear attack submarine. Throughout the deployment, various French* and foreign ships (German, American, Belgian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese) as well as a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2 will accompany or interact with the naval air group.

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First, global competition between the United States and China is an established strategic fact nowadays, which structures, and from now on will structure, all international relations.
The very idea of a multilateral order based on law, whereby the use of force is regulated, commitments are fulfilled and laws create obligations that apply to everyone, is being challenged greatly today.

This dismantling of international norms is part of an assumed competition-based approach whereby only the law of the strongest and power balances count. The most cynical go so far as to hide behind a legal premise and a superficial attachment to the world order to better violate it with total impunity.

These attitudes obviously raise fundamental questions to our democracies. Can we be the only ones to respect the rules of the game, the only ones whose signature on international commitments still has value? Has this become a guilty naivety?

But this European freedom of action, Europe’s defence and security, cannot be based solely on a military approach.

To build the Europe of tomorrow, our norms cannot be controlled by the United States, our infrastructure, our ports and airports owned by Chinese capital, and our computer networks under Russian pressure.

At European level, we need to control our maritime, energy and digital infrastructure.


etc etc

Better question : Do you think Boris n his Band of Buffoons are going to miss ANY opportunity to use their blatant Russophobia as a distraction ?

p.s. whatever DID happen to the Skripals ... and any evidence yet to back up the otherwise groundless novichok accusations against that nation ?

He's forgotten that last winter when the UK was under severe energy stress due to a prolonged cold spell Dear Old Putin sent them a tanker full of LPG ...

That scare the pants off the politicians - can;t have British people seeing the truth - that Russia is a benign neighbour as well as (let's not forget) the greatest of the WW2 Allies !