Thankfully, the Russians are coming
June 24th, 2009 | Foreign navies Ships | Posted by Andrew Scutro
FRUKUS 2007 was held in and around Norfolk, but cancelled the following year because of Russia's attack on neighboring Georgia. Pictured here are French frigate La Fayette, Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, and British frigate Portland. Destroyer Laboon also participated. //Navy
FRUKUS, a normally annual naval exercise for France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S. handily provides its own acronymn with first letters for each country. All four nations began holding the annual get-together in 2003 but it was cancelled last year after the U.S. suspended military-to-military activities with the Russian Federation following its conflict with Georgia, the nation.
The 2009 iteration got underway in the Bay of Biscay off France on June 19. And it’s a good thing Russia decided to show up, still willing to contribute an “R” to FRUKUS, or someone would have to come up with a new name. Fast.