NATO declares: “There is nothing to fear from Russia!”
NATO has nothing to fear from Russia overseeing its biggest military exercises in 20 years, a US admiral has stressed, as the event is designed to show Moscow what a formidable force it is up against.
US Admiral James Foggo.
Admiral James Foggo, head of US naval forces in Europe and Africa, said the number and capabilities of 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines as well as superior equipment and technology from 29 NATO member countries participating in the exercise could deter military action from Russia.
According to Express, while NATO allows Russian observers to attend exercises in Norway, Russia has not invited NATO observers to monitor its military exercises.
"There were two Russians who came to see what was going on on the beach. I think what they would say is, 'Wow, NATO is united, NATO is strong. That's what we want the observers to see, because that has the necessary deterrent effect,'" the US admiral stressed. NATO's largest exercise in 20 years, called Trident Juncture, is designed to test a scenario where a NATO country is attacked and the rest of the alliance comes to its aid - under Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
The exercise also involves 10,000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 65 naval vessels including the US aircraft carrier Harry S Truman. Britain – which is leading a multinational brigade in the main live-fire exercise – has deployed 2,800 troops, 250 armoured vehicles, four Royal Navy warships and four Hawk fighter jets.
The exercise comes about a month after Russia held its largest military exercise since the Cold War.
Russia has announced it will conduct missile drills in international waters off the coast of Norway, close to where NATO is holding military exercises - a move seen as a response to NATO's massive military exercises.
