Today, the large-scale NATO exercises called Tobruq Legacy will be completed in Poland. Over 3,000 servicemen from 19 countries took part in them. While the command of the alliance reports on the successes, journalists counted at least five problematic and even alarming situations at these and other NATO exercises that are taking place these days.
Arkady Glushenkov has the details.
The US servicemen post these inspiring videos from the exercises Baltops-2019 on social media. They feature stout marines practicing various maneuvers. 12,000 servicemen, 44 ships, and over 40 airplanes and helicopters are involved in the Baltops. 18 countries sent their servicemen and equipment. The military constantly talk about how important it is that so many states participate in the maneuvers.
Nil Simmons, Captain of the U.S. marine corps: "We have an opportunity to work with Spaniards, Romanians. This improves the quality of interaction — we'll be able to work with them in another place. Here, they understand our approach, we understand their tactics. We can share information and skills on the battlefield".
But NATO prefers to ignore many moments. For example, no one proudly tells the American audience how a Polish landing ship ended up with a hole at those exercises. The crew miscalculated the course and during the landing, the ship ran into an obstacle and damaged the plating in the middle part of the hull. They don't tell how over 100 hectares caught fire at other exercises nearby. 30 rescue teams were sent to extinguish the fire, they told about the incident. And at other maneuvers in Bulgaria, a Canadian parachutist died. NATO doesn't disclose details, journalists have to learn them from local officials.
Khristo Atanasov, Mayor of Cesneghirovo: "It was reported to me that a Canadian paratrooper died because his parachute didn't open. There are also three people who were injured. I couldn't say how and why it happened as I don't know".
There were also provocations with respect to Russia. Two American bombers were dangerously close to the borders of our country. Almost simultaneously, one of them approached Russia in the Baltic region, the other did it in near Crimea. To intercept them, the Ministry of Defense had to raise Su-27 fighters. As provided by international laws, they escorted the Americans. Interestingly, after that, one of the American B-52s started to have problems. The local press report that it made an emergency landing in the UK due to engine failure.
The State Duma says that such a number of problems at NATO exercises shows that the alliance didn't rely on the effectiveness of maneuvers but on creating an image of an invincible fighter against its main opponent — Russia.
Vladimir Shamanov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee: "Their preparations are really weak. The current state of the armed forces of the once powerful, in military terms, states, of course, makes them take measures. This is an erroneous tactic that can't lead to stabilization of the situation. The sooner they realize, the sooner the understanding of a group of states — Russia, China, and the U.S. — to form a collective security system will be formed".
Right now, NATO maneuvers are being held in the Baltic region, in Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. These exercises are the Tobruq Legacy, Baltops, Saber Guardian, and Dragon. By the end of the year, they plan to hold the Dynamic Mongoose and the Steadfast Flow. Given the current successes of NATO, experts doubt that the military will be able to justify these beautiful names.
Arkady Glushenkov, Evgeniya Zemtsova for Vesti.
