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According to Hodges, the biggest challenge for Russia – not NATO, and China and Islamic extremism.
The General recalled that NATO members are restricted in their actions in the black sea region / photo: Duma

The former commander of the US army in Europe (in 2014-2017) and now head of strategic studies Department of Center for European policy analysis, the General-the Lieutenant in resignation of Ben Hodges said that Russia could block Odessa.

He said this in an interview with DELFI.

“NATO and our partner countries like Georgia and Ukraine to counter what Russia is doing, it is necessary to create our own A2/AD (Anti Access/ Area Denial) is a “protective sphere” with the use of marine and terrestrial systems that will help protect primarily Romania and not to allow the Russian Navy to block, for example, Odessa. And this, in my opinion, can happen,” said Hodges.

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He also recalled that in contrast to the situation in the Baltic NATO members are restricted in their actions in the black sea region by the Montreux Convention of 1936. I agree to the Convention, only the black sea States – Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine are able to carry out full scale military ships at any time. Non-black sea States – the US, UK, Germany, Italy and France, this right is limited: only 21 days and only ships of a certain class and tonnage”.

At the same time, today, according to Hodges, the biggest challenge for Russia – not NATO, and China and Islamic extremism.

“Russia has huge length of the borders, but the main military force, she concentrates on the safest – West border. This is pointless! I am sure that sooner or later it will lead to renewed military confrontation with China. In addition, Moscow has no allies, at least definitely not true,” said Hodges.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Hodges said that Ukraine to protect its shores on the Black sea and the Azov sea needs new ships, international support and competent training of the personnel of the fleet.