Cold War II: NATO using aid as "cover" for Black Sea build-up

A top Russian general accused NATO of using humanitarian aid deliveries to Georgia as "cover" for a build-up of naval forces in the Black Sea, AFP reports.

"Under the cover of needing to deliver humanitarian goods, NATO countries continue to boost their naval grouping," Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of general staff, told a news conference in Moscow. "In addition to the Spanish and German frigates that entered the Black Sea basin on August 21, yesterday a Polish frigate and a destroyer of the US navy passed the Bosphorous," he said.

"I don't think that this will help stabilize the situation in the region."

The exercises, which will include visits in Bulgaria and Romania, are due to continue to September 10.