The size of NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 workouts mark an “irrevocable return” of the alliance to Chilly Conflict schemes, Russia’s Deputy Overseas Minister Alexander Grushko advised the state RIA information company in remarks revealed on Sunday (Jan 21).
NATO mentioned on Thursday it was launching its largest train for the reason that Chilly Conflict involving some 90,000 troops, rehearsing how US troops may reinforce European allies in nations bordering Russia and on the alliance’s jap flank if a battle have been to flare up with a “near-peer” adversary.
“These workouts are one other aspect of the hybrid struggle unleashed by the West in opposition to Russia,” Grushko advised RIA.
“An train of this scale … marks the ultimate and irrevocable return of NATO to the Chilly Conflict schemes, when the navy planning course of, assets and infrastructure are being ready for confrontation with Russia.”
NATO didn’t point out Russia by identify in its announcement. However its high strategic doc identifies Russia as probably the most vital and direct menace to NATO members’ safety.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 in what Kyiv and its Western allies have mentioned was an unprovoked imperialistic land seize.
Moscow, and its chief diplomat Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov, have since usually accused “the collective West” of conducting a “hybrid struggle” in opposition to Russia by backing Ukraine by means of monetary and navy assist.
