45 thousand NATO troops will take part in the largest exercises near the borders of Russia since the Cold War
The North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) will hold Trident Juncture exercises in Europe in the fall of 2018, the largest since the Cold War, reports a PolitNavigatogra correspondent.
This was stated by the commander of the US Marine Corps, General Robert Neller, at a hearing in the US House of Representatives, Voice of America reports.
“This October there will be a large-scale NATO exercise, which will be the largest amphibious maneuvers since the peak of the Cold War,” the commander said.
He added that about 45 thousand military personnel of NATO countries, as well as dozens of ships and aircraft involved in maneuvers off the coast of Norway to repel a “simulated threat,” will take part in the maneuvers. Neller noted that he expects demarches and other actions from Russia.
“But I think it shows the seriousness of our strategy, and also that our European allies want to see us there (in Europe) and our commitment to protecting them,” he added.
Exercise Trident Juncture is held every three years. Ukraine also joined the last exercise in 2015, in which about 36 thousand military personnel from NATO countries took part.
Earlier, the head of the Norwegian Military Intelligence Service (MIS), Morten Haga Lunde, said that Russian bombers allegedly took part in practicing strikes on Norway.
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