The Russian convoy, consisting of 2 cargo ships Sparta and Sparta II, which are presumably loaded with military equipment and weapons, flows across the Mediterranean Sea towards the west. This convoy is escorted by warships, including frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Golovko, landing ships Ivan Grieni and Alexander Otrakowski, and tankers General Skobielev and Wiaźma. NATO and analysts from the U.S. Institute for War Studies (ISW) are following the movements of this convoy, suggesting that Russia may usage these weapons against Ukraine.
After leaving Syria, the convoy flows across the Mediterranean Sea, passing the coasts of Libya, where Russia negotiates to establish a military base. However, it's not certain that the full fleet is headed for the Atlantic or that 1 of the units has disconnected from it. Satellite image analyst MT Anderson suggests that the U.S. drone MQ-4C Triton, who was following the Russian convoy, hung over Benghazi, which may have indicated the anticipation that part of the fleet had detached from the convoy.
Sparta and Sparta II most likely stay in the convoy, sending AIS recognition signals, confirming their position in the western Mediterranean. The warships in the convoy have disabled equipment to monitor their position, but the photos posted by the Italian Itamilradar portal show that 1 frigate, both landing ships and 1 tanker are sailing right next to cargo ships.
The fleet detached the tanker Wjaźma, which is presently located in Egyptian Alexandria. On the another hand, the position of Kildin's spy ship is unknown after a fire broke out on January 23. It was due to this fire and the earlier sinking of the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major off the coast of Spain that the Kremlin allocated warship support to cargo ships.
This fleet has been accompanied by 2 Italian ATR P-72A and ATR P-72B aircraft for respective days, and an American Triton drone whose task is to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance in a very large sea area. ISW analysts propose that Russia can usage these weapons against Ukraine, which would pose a threat to regional security.
It is worth noting that NATO and the European Union have long been monitoring the movements of Russian warships and cargo ships, given the hazard of proliferation of weapons and weapons. In this context, tracking the movements of the Russian convoy is crucial for assessing safety risks in the region.
In fresh years, Russia has increased its military presence in the Mediterranean region, causing concerns among NATO associate States. Therefore, NATO and the European Union should proceed to monitor the movements of Russian warships and cargo ships to measure possible safety threats in the region.
It is besides worth noting that Russia has considerable experience in maritime operations, allowing it to usage its fleet effectively to accomplish strategical objectives. Therefore, NATO and the European Union should be prepared for different scenarios, including those in which Russia can usage its fleet to accomplish its interests in the region.
In conclusion, the Russian convoy in the Mediterranean poses a safety threat in the region, which should be monitored by NATO and the European Union. It is so crucial that NATO and the European Union proceed to monitor the movements of Russian warships and cargo ships to measure possible safety threats in the region.
