The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is making its presence felt in Russia's backyard as it conducts manoeuvre in the Black Sea.
Russia has stepped up its military exercises since the onset of the Ukraine crisis, with a greater number of naval drills and NATO reports of incursions by Russian fighter jets and bombers.
It comes as the country's economy continues to suffer under international sanctions imposed by the West over allegations that Russia has been providing troops and military equipment to pro-Moscow rebels in the east of Ukraine.
Ships from Russia's Northern Fleet have cropped up in the English Channel twice over the past few months, while RAF jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian bomber off the coast of Cornwall last month as the country has flexed its military muscle.
In this light, the "scheduled deployment" of six NATO ships into the Black Sea was bound to ruffle a few feathers.
The Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNGM2) is currently on operations in the Black Sea conducting training exercises including simulated anti-air and anti-submarine warfare exercises.
The NATO group is on a port visit to the Romanian port of Constanta. It just happens to be on the doorstep of Crimea, the region annexed by Russia in March last year.
The USS Vicksburg is the flagship of SNGM2. The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser boasts the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a Mk 45 lightweight gun.
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