Norway prepares for biggest Nato exercises since cold war after Russia showcases military muscle at Vostok 2018
- Around 50,000 troops from 31 countries – Nato’s 29 member states plus Sweden and Finland – will take part
- Russia has not been officially identified as the intended adversary, but it is on everyone’s mind
Some 50,000 troops will kick off Nato’s biggest military exercises since the cold war on Thursday in Norway, a massive show of force that has already rankled neighbouring Russia.
Trident Juncture 18, which runs until November 7, is aimed at training the Alliance to mobilise quickly to defend an ally under attack.
The head of Nato’s Allied Joint Force Command, US Navy Admiral James Foggo, said the exercise was intended to “show Nato is capable to defend against any adversary. Not a particular country, anyone.”
But it is on everyone’s minds after the 2014 Ukraine crisis.
“Russia doesn’t represent a direct military threat to Norway,” Norwegian Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said.
“But in a security situation as complicated as we have today … an incident elsewhere could very well heighten tensions in the North and we want to prepare the Alliance in order to avoid any unfortunate incidents,” he added.
