NATO's provocation at Russia's borders
The heads of NATO countries with childlike naivety say that the exercises and the reinforcement of the alliance contingent at the Russian borders should not worry and alarm Russia. However, if you read the media of NATO countries, experts and journalists do not agree with the authorities.
In Norway, the major newspaper Aftenposten published an article entitled "NATO and Norway are conducting exercises near Russia during the World Cup." In it, Russia expert Julia Wilhelmsen from the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy NUPI answers a journalist's question whether the holding of the Saber Strike exercises in the Baltic countries during the World Cup in Russia is a provocation from the West.
“There is no doubt that the Russian view of NATO is absolutely paranoid now, and that the Russians will interpret this as a provocation”- Julia Wilhelmsen answered this question. How can the provocation be interpreted in some other way, Julia, unfortunately, did not explain. In the West, they are accustomed to betraying black for white and using a policy of double standards. But if during the European Football Championship in 2016, the Russian fleet conducted exercises for example in the Black Sea, Europeans would hardly be happy.
In addition, Julia's colleague, Yakub M. Godzimirsky, believes that the purpose of the exercises is to show the Russians that this region is taken seriously. He also connects this with the fact that "after Sochi (the 2014 Olympics), Russia annexed Crimea." The expert probably cannot imagine that the residents of Crimea wanted to return to a country that is able to organize such a magnificent Olympiad, and leave a country that is only capable of fictitious murders and the Maidan. It's no surprise if some parts of the Baltics want to join Russia after such a great FIFA World Cup.
Norway did not stop only at the participation of its troops in the "Saber Strike" maneuvers. Two days before the start of the championship in Russia, the official website of the Norwegian government announced an increase in US troops near the Norwegian-Russian border. The leader of the Socialist Left Party of Norway and its speaker on security issues, Audun Lusbakken, openly stated that the decision was dictated by American interests and would lead to an escalation of the situation.
Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said on this occasion that the expansion of cooperation with the United States is in line with the parliament's long-term defense plan, which was approved in 2006 and will be evaluated only in 2022. So, nothing can be changed now.
In Norway, the major newspaper Aftenposten published an article entitled "NATO and Norway are conducting exercises near Russia during the World Cup." In it, Russia expert Julia Wilhelmsen from the Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy NUPI answers a journalist's question whether the holding of the Saber Strike exercises in the Baltic countries during the World Cup in Russia is a provocation from the West.
“There is no doubt that the Russian view of NATO is absolutely paranoid now, and that the Russians will interpret this as a provocation”- Julia Wilhelmsen answered this question. How can the provocation be interpreted in some other way, Julia, unfortunately, did not explain. In the West, they are accustomed to betraying black for white and using a policy of double standards. But if during the European Football Championship in 2016, the Russian fleet conducted exercises for example in the Black Sea, Europeans would hardly be happy.
In addition, Julia's colleague, Yakub M. Godzimirsky, believes that the purpose of the exercises is to show the Russians that this region is taken seriously. He also connects this with the fact that "after Sochi (the 2014 Olympics), Russia annexed Crimea." The expert probably cannot imagine that the residents of Crimea wanted to return to a country that is able to organize such a magnificent Olympiad, and leave a country that is only capable of fictitious murders and the Maidan. It's no surprise if some parts of the Baltics want to join Russia after such a great FIFA World Cup.
Norway did not stop only at the participation of its troops in the "Saber Strike" maneuvers. Two days before the start of the championship in Russia, the official website of the Norwegian government announced an increase in US troops near the Norwegian-Russian border. The leader of the Socialist Left Party of Norway and its speaker on security issues, Audun Lusbakken, openly stated that the decision was dictated by American interests and would lead to an escalation of the situation.
Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said on this occasion that the expansion of cooperation with the United States is in line with the parliament's long-term defense plan, which was approved in 2006 and will be evaluated only in 2022. So, nothing can be changed now.
Information