Britain sounds the alarm: Russia takes control of the Atlantic for the first time since World War II
Фото: REUTERS
For the first time since the end of World War II, Great Britain may lose its strategic advantage in the Atlantic to Russia.
This was stated in an interview with The Times by the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s Naval Forces, Admiral Gwyn Jenkins.
According to Jenkins, the British advantage that persisted for decades after World War II and the Cold War is rapidly waning:
“We are holding on, but not for long. The Atlantic advantage is under threat.”
He emphasized that Russia has invested billions of dollars in developing naval capabilities, especially the Northern Fleet, despite the economic losses and human casualties of the war against Ukraine.
The admiral called on London to immediately strengthen its defense capabilities:
“We have to step up our efforts or we will lose this advantage. We cannot allow this to happen.”
The number of recorded Russian incursions into British waters has increased by 30% in the past two years, involving both conventional ships and Yantar-class reconnaissance vessels.
But, according to Jenkins, that’s just the “visible part”: “What worries me most is what’s happening beneath the waves.”
Britain deploys new equipment to counter Russian underwater threats:
autonomous underwater gliders for submarine detection;
the Atlantic Bastion sensor system, which will become the Royal Navy’s “eyes and ears” in deep waters.
A Russian reconnaissance ship was spotted near British territorial waters in November. Defence Secretary John Healy confirmed that the ship was collecting data on undersea cables.
The British military deployed a frigate and Royal Air Force aircraft to monitor it. During Operation Amber, it aimed laser beams at British pilots, sparking a new diplomatic scandal.
As a reminder, the United Kingdom has stepped up surveillance of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. Defense Minister John Healy said that London is “hunting for Russian submarines” amid Moscow’s increased military activity.
By the way, the Russian submarine B-261 “Novorossiysk” surfaced near the French coast . According to preliminary data, this could have happened due to a technical malfunction.
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