BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Hi

What on earth is he thinking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57583363

No other country has done this and thing about Putin is that if you prod him, he will prod back.

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Boris and 'thinking' in the same sentence? No - that doesn't work!

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Problem is with bullies is that while ever you continue to back down they will continue to bully, something that you speak of frequently Swimmy!

As far as I understand it the British ship was doing nothing that broke international law, so this was not actually provocation but just shows Putin for what he is, an international bully boy.... as though the world didn't know that already.

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Hi

Yes, we need to stand up to bullies, but not be stupid about it.

It Is an International problem and should have been dealt with as such.

There is an International Carrier Group in the Eastern Med, it should have been a united sail through, not just us.

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

But wouldn't that have seemed like real provocation, rather than one warship just going about it's lawful travels?

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Come on guys, it's hardly "picking a fight" when Putin the aggressor has had the gloves on for years!
If you look closely you might see the tactics behind the latest stories and begin to see just why Russia is getting so peeved - and be honest here, it serves the Russians right given recent history.

Russia annexed the Crimea and (to cut a long story short, basically) started a war with the Ukraine; they not very subtly try to influence global politics in a number of ways including using social media; they ignore global norms and assasinate (or attempt to) or incarcerate any opposition both within their borders and elsewhere as they see fit (remember Salisbury etc.?) just for a few examples.

Is the rest of the world (the UK included) supposed to just sit back and let the autocratic Putin continue unopposed?
Hurrah for the actions of our government and their having the cojones to give the little dictator Putin a taste of his own medicine, say I.
Unlike the spineless EU especially who, it really does appear, are so fearful of the possible consequences of truly opposing Russia that they instead prefer the "we will turn around and bend over" approach.

Back to the tactics though and in this case I see that the Ukraine have ordered some warships of British design, with at least some to be built here in the UK.
Those things are not cheap.
Add that to the British military (along with a very few select others) helping to train the Ukranian military and that alone is surely enough to explain Russia's obvious annoyance.

If in addition you consider other British "pushes" against Russian attempts at their exertion of power as with the dropping of British paratroopers into Jordan recently and the tone coming from Britain regarding Navalny and of Russian hacking attempts regarding Covid treatments and more besides, no wonder Russia is getting peeved.
It's about time somebody stood up to Putin.

As said above regarding a whole carrier group provoking reaction: perhaps one ship was the best approach?
The Russians are certainly riled.

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Well Said, Zaph!

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

I wonder what Boris is trying to distract you from noticing?

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

The waters surrounding "Crimea" are disputed waters because Crimea is Russian. There's a whole load of trouble making been taking place driven mostly by America (again) trying to twist a change of borders leading up to the ending of the USSR and via the EU the government of The Ukraine.

Claims that the territorial waters of Crimea are actually international waters are more than just disingenuous, they are provocative to say the least. Once again the UK is being USED by America and it will not go well if it continues.

Re: BoJo picks a fight with Russia.

Hi

You beat bullies by scaring them.

This was not a NATO Action so any response by Russia would not guarantee any NATO Support for the UK.

We are not big enough to scare Russia on our own.

We have to stop thinking of the UK as a super power, it certainly isn't.