According to analysts from Itamilradar, U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs have stopped conducting intelligence flights over the Black Sea near Russia’s borders.
The authors said that before the war with Iran, such missions were a regular part of NATO monitoring in the region. The United States used them to track Russian military activity in Crimea, developments around Ukraine and operations of the Black Sea Fleet. Now, according to the portal, Washington has effectively halted this intelligence activity.
Itamilradar noted that the United States previously used RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft for these missions, with flights departing from British territory. Washington also deployed RQ-4 Global Hawk drones and P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft based in Sicily.
At the same time, the portal reports that some monitoring tasks in the Black Sea region have been taken over by Washington’s European allies. In recent weeks, flights by British RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, Italian G550 CAEW planes and French reconnaissance aircraft have been recorded. However, their activity is far below the level previously maintained by the United States.
The authors believe one possible reason for the halt in U.S. missions over the Black Sea could be Washington’s desire to distance itself from the Ukrainian conflict. Itamilradar also recalled that U. S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about the need to reduce America’s military involvement in European security issues.