In a move that has heightened tensions between NATO and Russia, the alliance announced on Thursday the commencement of its largest military exercise since the Cold War, involving a staggering 90,000 troops. The exercises, known as Steadfast Defender 2024, are designed to simulate scenarios where U.S. troops would reinforce European allies in countries bordering Russia and along the alliance’s eastern flank in the event of a conflict with a “near-peer” adversary.
While NATO did not explicitly mention Russia in its announcement, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, in remarks published on Sunday, labeled the exercises as part of the “hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia.” Grushko asserted that the scale of these exercises signifies an “irrevocable return” of NATO to Cold War strategies, accusing the alliance of preparing its military planning process, resources, and infrastructure for a confrontation with Russia.
“These exercises are another element of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia. An exercise of this scale … marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes, when the military planning process, resources and infrastructure are being prepared for confrontation with Russia,” stated Grushko to the state RIA news agency.
NATO’s decision to conduct such extensive military exercises reflects the alliance’s concern over potential threats from Russia. While NATO’s official announcement avoided direct references to Russia, the alliance’s top strategic document identifies Russia as the most significant and direct threat to the security of its member nations.
The backdrop to these maneuvers includes Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which Kyiv and its Western allies have characterized as an unprovoked imperialistic land grab. Moscow, and its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have consistently accused the “collective West” of waging a “hybrid war” against Russia by providing financial and military aid to Ukraine.
As NATO flexes its military muscles with this extensive exercise, the geopolitical tensions between the alliance and Russia are likely to escalate. The situation adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relations between the two sides, raising concerns about the potential for a return to Cold War-era hostilities. The global community watches closely as these strategic maneuvers unfold, keeping a keen eye on the evolving dynamics in the ongoing NATO-Russia geopolitical chess match.
Sources By Agencies
