Military exercises are held on the German polygon of Altengrabov, which “are the preparation of NATO for the operation of the conversion of Russia.” This was stated by the German Das Erste TV channel, RIA Novosti reports.
According to media information, maneuvers are aimed at ensuring the safety of the Eastern flank of the Alliance countries. “In 2014, NATO decided to place troops in Lithuania in advance to send a signal. This is our task. This is the task of our division for this year and the following three,” said one of the commanders of the educational artillery battalion.
On April 13, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the United States and NATO move troops to the borders of the European part of the country. “Now the American troops are transferred from the continental parts of North America across the Atlantic to Europe,” he said at a meeting in Severomorsk. According to him, the main potential focuses on the Black Sea and Baltic. The Minister clarified that NATO will place 40 thousand military and 15 thousand units of weapons and military equipment near Russian borders.
Earlier in April, it became known about the plans of the US Secretary of State to meet with NATO partners against the background of statements about the increase in Russia “military activity”. Also in Brussels will be the Minister of Defense of the states of Lloyd Austin – he will hold talks with the Secretary General of Alliance Jens Stoltenberg.
At the end of March Blinken said that in Washington, Russia is close to the completion of the “hostile” actions of Russia and intend to take serious measures. According to him, in the US, various examples of Russian aggression are seen – hacker attacks, election interference, the use of chemical weapons.