Turkey Setting Sails on Big Naval Ambitions

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has just officially begun constructing its first landing platform dock (LPD) but the country’s president already is talking about future production of an aircraft carrier and even a nuclear vessel.

The planned amphibious assault vessel will carry a battalion-sized unit of 1,200 troops and personnel, eight utility helicopters and three unmanned aerial vehicles; it also will transport 150 vehicles, including battle tanks. 

It also may have an aircraft platform for vertical takeoff and landing. A ski jump at the front of the deck can be used to launch fighter aircraft.

Russia: NATO Aims to 'Destabilize' Caucasus with Georgia Drills

 

MOSCOW — Russian foreign ministry on Friday accused NATO of seeking to destabilize the Caucasus region with upcoming joint exercises in Georgia, where US soldiers will train together with Georgian forces this month.

The exercise in Georgia, called Noble Partner, will involve about 1,300 participants from US, Britain and Georgia and take place at the Vaziani base outside Tbilisi for two weeks this month, starting on May 11. 

It involved the US shipping its M1A2 main battle tanks across the Black Sea to Georgia for the first time this week. 

Georgia, an ex-Soviet mountainous country, has bid to join the alliance, infuriating its former imperial master Russia, which bitterly opposes NATO's expansion into former Soviet republics. 

DYI Comments:  Russia is correct NATO is attempting to destabilize the Caucasus.  The U.S. State Departments long term goal since the end of WWII is the break up of Russia.  Their plan is for the Lap Lands, the Caucasus, and the political sub divisions east of the Ural mountains to form new countries friendly to the U.S., U.K., NATO, EU alliance allowing western energy/mining companies access to Russia's vast natural resources.  No doubt this is a nasty game of geo-politics. This is why the alliance is allowing Turkey (Russia's mortal enemy) to build up their military to extend their sphere of influence deep into the Caucasus driving the peoples of this region into the arms of the Turks.

DYI