UK Chief of Defence Staff Admits That Miscalculation In The Recent U.K. - Russian Naval Confrontation Could Have Escalated Very Quickly

General Sir Nick Carter warns the risk of an ‘unwarranted escalation‘ involving Britain is ‘the thing that keeps me awake in bed at night‘ Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

The Telegraph: ‘Miscalculation’ in Russian cat and mouse game could lead to full blown war, warns Army chief

Standoff in Black Sea involving Royal Navy destroyer was the type of incident that risked unwarranted escalation, says Head of Armed Forces

A “miscalculation” in the cat and mouse game with Russia could lead to full blown war, the head of the Armed Forces has warned, after a tense confrontation in the Black Sea this week.

General Sir Nick Carter, the chief of the defence staff, said the risk of an “unwarranted escalation” involving Britain was “the thing that keeps me awake in bed at night”.

There was a standoff between Britain and Russia when a Royal Navy destroyer passed through a contested part of the Black Sea on Wednesday.

Russia considers the waters to be its own after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, but it is recognised by Britain as sovereign Ukrainian territory.

HMS Defender provoked Russian forces into firing warning shots and dropping four bombs close to the ship, according to the Russian defence ministry, but this claim is disputed by Downing Street.

Reflecting on the incident during a talk at the Chalke Valley History Festival, Sir Nick, who has pushed back his retirement to stay in post until the end of the year, said: “The thing that keeps me awake in bed at night is a miscalculation that comes from unwarranted escalation.

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Update #1: General Sir Nick Carter kept awake at night by risk of war (The Times)

Update #2: UK Chief of Defence Staff Admits Incident in Black Sea Creates Risks of 'Unwarranted Escalation' (Sputnik)

WNU Editor: It looks like the Bristish government was not unified on this operation .... Dominic Raab 'questioned whether MoD should send British destroyer into contested Crimean waters' before dramatic confrontation with Russians in the Black Sea (Daily Mail).