NATO’s recent deployment of its largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War has raised concerns over escalating regional tensions and confrontations with Russia. The exercise, codenamed “Resolute Defender 2024”, involves the participation of about 90,000 soldiers from 31 NATO member countries and partner country Sweden along with more than 50 ships, 80 fighter jets, and over 1,100 combat vehicles.
This military exercise, which will last until May 31, has been widely viewed as a direct challenge to Russia. NATO’s Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in Europe, Christopher Cavalli, stated that the exercise is intended to demonstrate the ability to mobilize forces across the Atlantic from North America to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic region.
Analysts have suggested that the exercise is meant to cheer up Ukraine, which faced frustration on the battlefield against Russia, and to exaggerate the so-called “Russian threat” to persuade people in NATO countries to support military expansion. However, they have also noted that NATO’s use of military exercises to deter Russia is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield.
Russian officials have criticized the large-scale NATO military exercise as part of the West’s “hybrid war” against Russia and a return to the model of confronting Russia during the Cold War. They believe that the exercise is aimed at creating excuses for NATO’s eastward and northward expansion and for increasing military expenditures among member states.
The military exercise is centered around the so-called Baltic countries and other NATO eastern flank countries, as well as Germany, the hub of reinforcements. However, experts have expressed skepticism about the impact of the exercise on the security environment of NATO member states, especially those in the eastern flank.
Analysts have warned that the confrontational measures adopted by NATO are likely to deepen hostility between European countries and Russia and worsen the security situation in the entire region. They believe that such exercises are not conducive to regional peace and security.
In light of these developments, it is evident that the large-scale NATO military exercise has exacerbated tensions between Russia and NATO, sparking concerns about the potential for further confrontations in the region.