NATO exercises near Russia’s border

“The large-scale exercises of NATO started in Estonia on May 16. The exercise called ‘Hedgehog 2022’ is one of the largest exercises in the history of the Baltic state.” RT According to information from NATO, “The exercise involved about 15,000 troops from 14 countries, including members of the bloc and partners.”

Soldiers from Finland, Sweden, Georgia and Ukraine are among those participating in the exercise. The exercise has the participation of all members of the armed forces, to practice both in the air, at sea, on the ground and in electronic warfare, television stations. Yle of Finland reported.

Radio RT Citing a NATO statement, the exercise will also see the participation of the US Navy’s “Wasp Kearsarge” class amphibious ship. However, NATO and the Estonian Defense Force, both denied that the exercise was only about 60 kilometers from the Russian border in response to Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.

The NATO exercise comes just one day after Finland and Sweden officially announced their plans to join the US-led military alliance, which currently has 30 members, according to NATO. RT.

A NATO exercise. Photo: Sputnik

“However, the exercise in Estonia is only one part of a large-scale NATO military action near the Russian border.” RT The other Baltic country, Lithuania, is also holding the “Iron Wolf” exercise with 3,000 NATO troops and 1,000 military equipment, including two German Leopard 2 tanks.

Two of the largest NATO exercises, “Defender Europe” and Swift Response – are taking place in Poland and eight other countries with the participation of 18,000 troops from 20 countries.

“These exercises show that NATO takes a strong stance and is ready to defend our member states against any threat,” radio station said. RT Citing NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu as saying, the exercise will help “remove miscalculations and misunderstandings about our determination to protect every inch of our member countries’ land.”

NATO’s rapid response force is currently taking part in the 7,500-strong military exercise “Wettiner Heide” in Germany. The Mediterranean Sea will also see the “Neptune series” naval exercises with the participation of the USS ‘Harry S. Truman’ aircraft carrier strike group. This is the second time since the end of the Cold War that this US aircraft carrier battle group has been transferred to NATO command.

It is expected that in June, Poland and the Baltic countries will continue to hold what NATO considers “the largest integrated air and missile defense exercise in Europe” with 23 participating countries. .

Finland, which shares long borders with Russia and Sweden, has decided to revisit its longstanding policy of neutrality.

“This development has sparked a wave of criticism from Moscow, which has warned that it will have to respond if Finland and Sweden join NATO. Moscow also asserts that NATO expansion is a direct threat continue to their security” – radio RT write.