Foggo: Russia, China on the Move, From the Arctic to the Med

The commander of U.S. and allied naval forces in Europe and
Africa said he is dealing with increased activities by both Russia and China in
his vast area of responsibility — which stretches from the Arctic to the
southern tip of Africa — despite a shortage of resources.

“We do the best we can with what we have,” Adm. James G. Foggo III, commander, U.S. Forces Europe and Africa, and commander, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, said Dec. 18.

“It’s an extremely large tactical area” and “setting
priorities is the biggest challenge — where do you go,” Foggo said. He must
look at the entire theater, which covers all of Europe, the Mediterranean and
Black seas, the Baltics, the Arctic and Eastern Atlantic, down to the Cape of
Good Hope.

“When there are tensions, you try to go where the tensions
are” or respond to something that might threaten allies. “You have to be
flexible, agile.”

A career submariner, Foggo said the Russians are operating
some very capable submarines in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, including
new Kilo-class diesel-electric boats, which are very quiet. “It’s important we
know where they are because they have Kalibr (cruise) missiles that can reach
anywhere in Europe.” He said Russia also is building anti-access, area-denial
capabilities in Crimea, installing anti-ship cruise missiles and S-300 and
S-400 advanced air- and missile-defense weapons.

Although he seldom gets a carrier strike group in his
theater, due to the focus on the Persian Gulf and the Pacific, Foggo praised
the Virginia-class fast attack subs he gets, which “move very fast” so he can
put them where he needs them.

“We’re very, very busy in the undersea domain, busiest I’ve
ever seen,” he said. “We are challenged by resources,” although the nation has
been “very generous” in defense funding. “But we’re in a great power
competition,” he added, citing Russia and China. “We still maintain the
competitive edge and need to do so.”

Although Russia is operating frequently all around his AOR,
China is mainly active in Africa, buying access and support with loans and
construction projects that frequently come with demands for long-term access to
ports, such as in Djibouti, where it has a large military facility next door to
the U.S. base.

China also is increasingly active in the Arctic, where
Russia is trying to create dominance as the polar ice cap shrinks, Foggo said.
“We’ve seen much more Chinese activity up there than before,” and Russia and
China “are collaborating in the Arctic.”

Foggo noted the value of the allied and partner nations that
contribute to security in his command area, the increased defense spending by
NATO nations and the recent re-establishment of the U.S. 2nd Fleet in Norfolk
and the Joint Forces command in Naples in response to the Russian threat.

While noting the lack of unprofessional or unsafe activities
by Russian forces for several months, Foggo cited the “unsafe” activities of a
Russian spy vessel currently operating close to the U.S. Atlantic coast and
refusing to respond to radio contact and sailing without running lights at
night.