Cold snap: Russia's icy admission
Mark Riley
November 13, 2014, 6:16 pm
Russian officials have responded to the frenzy surrounding the convoy of heavily armed warships that are heading to Australia - and you won't believe what it is.
7News broke this story last night about the move, which is being seen as a defiant gesture not just to Australia but to the West and a reminder that Russia is still a big player in global affairs.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ordered for the Russians to be monitored around the clock. Photo: AAP
The official response is that Russia is testing its pacific fleet's range capability, believe it or not, in case it has to do climate change research in the Antarctic.
The embassy spokesman also added that the Russian warships may have to provide security for their president, but it seems that Australia is simply being dragged into a geopolitical play by a resurgent Russia.
Stung by the rise of China and an America that's reasserting its authority in the region, Russia is sending a message to the world: Don't forget about us.
Russia's official response claims the powerhouse is testing its pacific fleet's range capability in case it has to do climate change research in the Antarctic. Photo: Getty
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The Russian Embassy has admitted that the move to send a convoy of heavily armed Russian warships to Australia ahead of the G20 is out of the ordinary but insists they aren't looking for conflict.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott agrees it's an unusual sight, ordering for the Russians to be monitored around the clock.
"Certainly it is unusual for Russian naval elements to be in Australian waters," said Abbott.
"Unusual - not entirely unprecedented - but unusual."
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin applauds at an award ceremony for Russian researchers who participated in the exploration of subglacial Lake Vostok in Antarctica. Photo: AP
With world leaders forming a symbol of unity as they linked arms in Myanmar, Abbott and his Russian counterpart, Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev stood at opposite ends - a symbol of division as Russian warships steam closer to Australia.
The are being flanked by Australian Navy frigates HMAS Stuart and HMAS Parramatta, with P-3 Orions flying regular sorties from Townsville to track the movements of the Russian convoy, led by the guided missile destroyer Varyag.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits a naval base in Novorossiysk on September 23. Photo: Getty
A Russian embassy spokesman said the warships wouldn't enter Australian waters, insisting: "We stick to the rules. Nobody wants conflict."
However, he did make an admission while talking about the 'routine exercise'.
"Your reaction is not that surprising because we do rarely go this way."
Former Australian Chief of Army Peter Leahy insists there is a big reason why the world is following Russia's every move with a keen eye.
"I think the rest of the world is watching closely what Russia does because there is an element of unpredictability about it," said the retired senior officer.
The unannounced flotilla is obviously timed for the weekend's G20. Tony Abbott says it would have been months in the planning, but the Kremlin has confirmed the ships left Vladivostok on October 23 - 10 days after Abbott's threat to shirtfront president Vladimir Putin.
"Let's not forget Russia's been much more militarily assertive in recent times," said Abbott.
He is, of course, referring to Russia sending nuclear submarines to Scandanavia, warships off Crimea, troops into Ukraine and long-range bombers flying over Central America. For now, the world will have to wait to see what happens at the G20 in Brisbane.
News break - November 13
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