The United States once again defends Europe from its aggressive eastern neighbor. Once again, globally. I’m talking about the defender Europe 2020 exercises (Defender of Europe 2020), which were carried out, but nevertheless held, albeit in a scanty version. After the statements on the largest exercises in 25 years with the participation of 37 thousand soldiers from 18 countries, what we see today does not really look very impressive.
Defender Europe 2020. Doctrines not needed by the military
Agree that about six thousand soldiers (including two thousand from Poland), 100 tanks and more than 230 combat vehicles, artillery and missile systems, as well as aviation (total of about 2000 pieces of equipment) - this is not a global combined force of NATO countries. And the venue, the Drav Landfill, is incomparable with those territories that were planned to be used in several countries at once.
On the other hand, we are used to the tricks of our “partners”. And everyone knows about a simple way to circumvent international teachings control treaties. That is why several exercises are held simultaneously. Just remember what happened a little earlier. Along with the cancellation, or rather, the transfer, of the Defender Europe 2020 exercises, several more were canceled: Dynamic Front, Joint Warfighting Assessment, Saber Strike and Swift Response.
Look at the composition of the participants in the exercises. Poland: the 12th mechanized brigade from Szczecin, as well as the military personnel of the 6th airborne brigade from Krakow, the 9th Braniewski cavalry brigade, the 2nd engineering regiment, the 2nd engineer regiment and the 5th engineering regiment. F-16 planes from the 2nd wing of tactical aviation and Mi-24 helicopters from the 1st brigade of the ground forces aviation will take part in the exercises from the Air Force. USA: about four thousand soldiers from the command of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 2nd Brigade Combat Group, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. In addition, units of the Czech and Lithuanian army will be involved.
Three reasons for Defender Europe 2020
Why do Americans need such teachings? Let's try to answer this question. What are the American troops participating in the exercises? Tankers (1st Cavalry Division), motorized infantry, and US aviation will train the Poles. What to teach, I think, is understandable.
US military businessmen decided to pre-train crews for American military equipment, which they plan to sell to Poland and the Baltic countries. Nothing personal, just business. A sort of master class on the possession of "the world's best military equipment and weapons" from the United States. This is the first task of the ongoing war games.
The first, but not the only one. American compounds are based in the United States. After the stunning results of the mass transfer of troops by Russia, the Americans naturally really wanted to know the real capabilities of their own army to transport large formations across the ocean. It turned out that the problems that need to be solved yesterday are higher than the roof.
If you look at the situation with Defender Europe 2020 a little more broadly, in the context of considering the exercises already held earlier, the third task is also visible. At a time when Germany in every possible way shows its unwillingness to continue to cooperate in the United States, the Americans are forced to look for territories to base their forces in Europe. This place may well be Poland and the Baltic countries.
Agree, talk about flying time, the speed of reaction of ground forces to enemy actions and other horror stories that scare Europeans cannot be taken seriously. The battalion group, with the support of the air squadron and the naval group, will be able to restrain the advance of the army. Is funny Meanwhile, it is precisely this idea that is being introduced into the heads of Poles and citizens of the Baltic republics.
Moreover, if we consider the main event of the Defender Europe 2020 exercises - crossing the water barrier, the Neman and Daugava rivers, an association is very unpleasant for Poles and Baltic states. Americans are true to themselves. They again plan to fight with the wrong hands. And to fight in Europe, not Russia. Consequently, the main burden of the war must again lie on the Europeans.
Baltops 2020 as part of the Defender Europe 2020 exercises
Another fact speaks in favor of this concept, another doctrine that ended literally a few days ago. Baltops 2020 (“Baltic Operations 2020”). As they say in NATO, the main event of the year in the Baltic Sea. 17 NATO countries and 2 partner countries are participating. 29 maritime units, 29 aircraft and up to 3000 people. This is the 49th teaching!
I will quote the NATO website (about what the command poses for these exercises):
Key training areas include air defense, anti-submarine warfare, naval prohibitions and landmine operations.
This exercise enhances the flexibility and interoperability between the allied and partner countries in order to strengthen the joint response capabilities, and also demonstrates the international determination to ensure stability and, if necessary, protect the Baltic Sea region.
This exercise enhances the flexibility and interoperability between the allied and partner countries in order to strengthen the joint response capabilities, and also demonstrates the international determination to ensure stability and, if necessary, protect the Baltic Sea region.
And what do these smart words hide? What should a European citizen hear? And he should hear the following. In the event of a conflict between Russia and NATO, the alliance is able to completely block the Baltic Fleet and the Baltic sky. Thus ensuring the security of Europe from the north.
But even clearer is the hint for citizens of the Baltic republics and Poland. Live calmly, the alliance will not allow the landing of Russian marines and paratroopers in your countries! It is clear that these are purely political statements. The military on both sides are well aware that the sea and air blockade of Russia in the Baltic is impossible today.
Why exercises are held right now
Does it not seem strange to you that the more or less large NATO exercises are clearly tied to some significant events in Russia. Be it the celebration of Victory Day, Victory Parade, as is happening now, the Olympics, the World Cup, summits of heads of state or something like that. Why is this done? By the way, this is openly talked about in our Foreign Ministry.
In particular, Deputy Foreign Minister Lavrov Alexander Grushko spoke on this subject:
It’s no secret that NATO’s exercises, for example, Defender of Europe, the largest in recent years, were built on Cold War tracing paper and planned in such a way that the peak of activity, that is, with the greatest involvement of both equipment and personnel, was for the period around May 9th. It is a fact.
In NATO, they probably think that it is on holidays that our military serve much worse than usual. Moreover, if you delve into the recent stories, this thesis has been tested even by military means. Very unfortunate for NATO. I mean the war 08.08.08. It is very strange that such obvious things have reached the western military personnel for so long ...