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Russia and Nato 'heading for war' with growing number of drills in Europe, report warns | Russia and Nato 'heading for war' with growing number of drills in Europe, report warns |
(about 3 hours later) | |
War games in Europe being conducted by Russia and Nato are more than just exercises and are making a real conflict more likely, a study has warned. | |
Experts from the London-based European Leadership Network (ELN) think-tank examined two huge exercises from earlier this year, when the two sides in the growing conflict mobilised almost 100,000 troops between them. | |
In its report, ELN found the war games were actively “contributing to a climate of mistrust” and led to “dangerous close encounters” between Russian and Nato forces. | |
The Ukraine crisis has seen a deterioration of relations between Russia and the West since the annexation of Crimea by Vladimir Putin last year. | The Ukraine crisis has seen a deterioration of relations between Russia and the West since the annexation of Crimea by Vladimir Putin last year. |
ELN said Nato planned to conduct a total of 270 exercises this year, while Russia has declared 4,000 drills across all levels. | ELN said Nato planned to conduct a total of 270 exercises this year, while Russia has declared 4,000 drills across all levels. |
Speaking to the Associated Press, ELN director and study co-author Ian Kearns said: “Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO, and NATO is preparing for a possible confrontation with Russia.” | Speaking to the Associated Press, ELN director and study co-author Ian Kearns said: “Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO, and NATO is preparing for a possible confrontation with Russia.” |
The two exercises analysed in detail by ELN were a Russian drill in March featuring 80,000 personnel, and a Nato Allied Shield exercise in June when 15,000 armed forces members from 22 countries took part. | The two exercises analysed in detail by ELN were a Russian drill in March featuring 80,000 personnel, and a Nato Allied Shield exercise in June when 15,000 armed forces members from 22 countries took part. |
“History is full of examples of leaders who think they can keep control of events, and events have a habit of taking on a momentum and dynamic of their own,” said Mr Kearns. | |
The study said the exercises were also revealing in terms of what each side views as its most vulnerable points – Nato holding drills in Poland and the Baltics while for Russia it appeared to be the Arctic, Crimea and borders with Estonia and Latvia. | The study said the exercises were also revealing in terms of what each side views as its most vulnerable points – Nato holding drills in Poland and the Baltics while for Russia it appeared to be the Arctic, Crimea and borders with Estonia and Latvia. |
The ELN issued four recommendations which it said “could help to defuse or at least minimise tensions”. They included improved communication between sides, greater use of the OSCE organisation and a new treaty limiting the deployment of certain categories of weapons to some areas. | The ELN issued four recommendations which it said “could help to defuse or at least minimise tensions”. They included improved communication between sides, greater use of the OSCE organisation and a new treaty limiting the deployment of certain categories of weapons to some areas. |
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