As Russia tensions simmer, NATO conducts massive war games

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LORNE COOK

ABOARD HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH (AP) — As tensions with Russia simmer, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region.

The war games, dubbed Steadfast Defender 21, are aimed at simulating the 30-nation military organization’s response to an attack on any one of its members. It will test NATO’s ability to deploy troops from America and keep supply lines open.

Already in recent years, the United States and its allies have deployed troops and equipment in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to try to reassure those members neighboring Russia that their partners will ride to the rescue should they come under attack.

Russia’s decision last month to send thousands of troops to the border area with Ukraine has raised concern at the military alliance, which launched one of its biggest ever defense spending initiatives after Russian troops annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.



Military personnel direct F-35 jets and helicopters on the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth as it participates in the NATO Steadfast Defender 2021 exercise off the coast of Portugal, Thursday, May 27, 2021. As tensions with Russia simmer, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region. The war-games, dubbed Steadfast Defender 2021, are aimed at simulating the 30-nation military organization's response to an attack on any one of its members. (AP Photo/Ana Brigida)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-europe-8447702a78ee532b710d68f419cc565b

[oasis]

1. NATO has grown to 30 member nations? wow.

[Wicked Blue]

2. I'm heartened to see this happening

Putin was vastly emboldened during the previous "presidency."

As someone with close relatives in one of the Baltic nations, I was worried sick for those 4 years that there might be a military invasion.

[Mike 03]

3. Dear NATO

Just in case you are interested, here are the coordinates for Putin's Palace at Cape Idokopas :

Latitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds: 44° 25' 05" N
Longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds: 38° 12' 26" E
Military Grid Reference System coordinates: 37TDK3688818613
Joint Operations Graphic reference: NL37-10

https://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-4080165&fid=5121&c=russia

Thank you for your attention to this matter.