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OSLO – NATO has embarked on its largest military exercises since the end of the Cold War in Norway on Thursday, evidence of the US's "strong" commitment to the collective defense of the Alliance, said US Admiral James Foggo, while Moscow denounced the "Anti-Russian" maneuvers.
About 50,000 soldiers, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 countries were participating in Trident Juncture 18, which aims to train the Atlantic Alliance in the defense of a member state after an badault.
This show of force is in line with recent concerns about US President Donald Trump's commitment to NATO, in particular the "Article 5" mutual defense clause, which obliges all member states to help another country. Member state.
"Article 5 and the US commitment are steadfast," Foggo, the NATO Allied Joint Force Commander in Oslo, told the press.
"This commitment is evident in our actions and actions."
The United States is the largest contingent of Trident Juncture, comprising more than 9,000 Marines and an aircraft carrier deployed in Norwegian waters for the first time since 1987.
The exercises are also taking place in the context of growing tensions between the West and Russia, which has annexed Crimea and is accused of destabilizing Eastern Ukraine, which it denies.
Moscow also boosted its military capabilities in the Arctic and conducted its own biggest exercises in the Far East in September.
"In recent years, security in Europe has deteriorated considerably," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
"Trident Juncture sends a clear message to our nations and to any potential opponent. NATO is not looking for confrontation, but we are ready to defend all allies against any threat, "he told reporters on Wednesday.
The exercises will take place at a respectable distance from the Norwegian border of 198 km with Russia in the Far North, but Moscow has nevertheless described the Trident Juncture exercise "anti-Russian".
"Such activity (…) sounds provocative, even if you try to justify its purely defensive character," said the Russian Embbady in Oslo.
Unfounded fears
Foggo has sought to alleviate concerns.
"The fears of the Russian Federation are unfounded," he said.
"We defend, we dissuade, we do not take the territory of someone else, it is not our intention and they are not at the center of this exercise."
Two Russian military observers and two Belarusians have been invited to watch the maneuvers taking place until 7 November.
For months, Moscow has been upset by the growing Western military presence in the region. The United States and Britain have stepped up their deployments in Norway to accustom their troops to combat in cold weather.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova spoke at the beginning of October to condemn what she described as "whistling" and promised that Moscow would take "reprisal measures".
"The major NATO countries are strengthening their military presence in the region, near Russia's borders," she said.
"Such irresponsible actions will inevitably lead to a destabilization of the political situation in the north, to increased tensions," she said.
Tensions have already erupted on Saturday after US President Donald Trump announced that he was giving up a nuclear deal for the era of the Cold War era, which according to Russia, could harm global security.
Accusing Russia to develop a new missile system, Trump has threatened to increase the US arsenal.
In addition to the 29 NATO member countries, Sweden and Finland, neighbors of Norway, will participate in the exercises.
"We do not see any military threat against Northern Europe today, but we live in uncertain and unpredictable times," wrote five Nordic defense ministers or foreign ministers in a joint column published Thursday. in several newspapers.
"A more confident Russia has demonstrated both its willingness and its ability to use military might to achieve its own strategic goals," they wrote, stressing the importance of security cooperation between their countries.
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