The Russians Buy French

Russia--realizing that their navy is crumbling and that their ship-building infrastructure is all but in ruin--is buying a French Mistral-class amphibious assault carrier.

If you're not going to buy from us, buying from Le France is getting the next best thing when it comes to warships. Le France has a nuclear carrier and several potent surface combatants and submarines, all well-armed and formidable. But how pitiful does this make Russia look?

Turns out, not as pitiful as having an American destroyer show up unchallenged in their back yard during a major diplomatic crisis.

I do wonder if this is in part a reaction to the conflict in Georgia. I disagree with CNO Gary Roughead in regards to some of his shipbuilding decisions, but last summer when he ordered USS McFaul (DDG 74) into the port of Batum, Georgia he pulled a modern day 'Commodore Perry Goes to Tokyo' with that gunboat diplomacy, and it had to set off alarms in Moscow. Some may not have appreciated what he did, but I thought it was a brilliant exercise in naval diplomacy. Traditionally, naval diplomacy has been a critical element in sustaining peaceful relations in times of tension, and in hindsight I think sending USS McFaul (DDG 74) had exactly that effect. Teddy Roosevelt would have been impressed.

Commodore Perry goes to Tokyo indeed...That is exactly what this decision is about.

Le France's Mistral-class amphibious assault carrier, similar to an American Wasp-class warship