BALTOPS 2016 - NATO expanding exercises close to Russia

This week in Finland out of the blue Finnish defence comittee and Parliament found out information about agreed military drills with NATO. NATO had contacted Finnish defence minister and invited themselves to military drill which NATO organize inside finnish territory and finnish coastland. Parliament and defence committee of Finland were not informed about this and they heard about this first time from the news media. Finland shares the longest border in Europe with Russia and is not a member of NATO.

In next May there is NATO airforce drill with Finnish Karelian airforce in Rissala area, also army military exercise is on a way and BALTOPS 2016 will start in June. BALTOPS drill last year were in Swedish coast and before that 2012 in Estonia. It seems like they are practising how to put a plug in Finnish bay ( already practised in Estonia which is opposite site of the bay ) . Next drill will put more tensions on Russia.

Finnish defenceforce about smaller airforce drill in May

BALTOPS 2015 - Sweden coastline 49 warships and 5600 troops


BALTOPS 2016 - still WIP at the moment 35 NATO warships and 70 aircrafts, UK is sending atm 5 warships and 6000 troops for the drill.

The UK are sending up to 6,000 British troops and five warships to the Baltic as part of an operation to buildup Nato’s military presence against Russia.

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and NATO-backed allies, the UK have decided to significantly increase its presence with other European countries in the region, including Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

NATO say the increase in military on the Russian border is a more “muscular approach” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yournewswire

Are we poking Big Bad Bear Badly by the Summer, will that BBB be provoked as the situation in Russia seems to be tense already by Turkey and now BALTOPS and other military drills are behind next corner.

a reply to: dollukka

This seems to be the reason why this is happening.

Finland's announcement also comes a day after it was revealed Putin was scrambling 8,500 troops, 200 warplanes and 50 battleships from his military reserves in the south-west.

www.dailymail.co.uk... html

Seems Russia's neighbors get a bit worried when these things happen lately, but can you blame them.

Countries train all the time, but it is just because of the situation at hand we have this type of story coming out.

a reply to: tsurfer2000h

True, Russia have took old abandoned military bases back in action last year near finnish border, renovating etc. the problem as i see is that parlament and defence comittee were not informed before the agreement on the drill were done. it seems that there are "different rules " in action nowadays. Also that NATO actually invited themselves with their own organized drill ( they were not invited at the first place ).

NATO : We are coming to your shores and inland with our BALTOPS military drill
Finnish defence minister : Oh.. ok
Time goes by ....
News: BALTOPS COMING TO FINLAND 2016
Finnish parliament: WHAT ?
Finnish defence comittee : WHAT ? Where´s the memo
Finnish defence minister: It has been all the time on desk.. you should have asked for it
Finnish defence committee:

See the picture ? grins..

originally posted by: dollukka
a reply to: tsurfer2000h

True, Russia have took old abandoned military bases back in action last year near finnish border, renovating etc. the problem as i see is that parlament and defence comittee were not informed before the agreement on the drill were done. it seems that there are "different rules " in action nowadays. Also that NATO actually invited themselves with their own organized drill ( they were not invited at the first place ).

NATO : We are coming to your shores and inland with our BALTOPS military drill
Finnish defence minister : Oh.. ok
Time goes by ....
News: BALTOPS COMING TO FINLAND 2016
Finnish parliament: WHAT ?
Finnish defence comittee : WHAT ? Where´s the memo
Finnish defence minister: It has been all the time on desk.. you should have asked for it
Finnish defence committee:

See the picture ? grins..

The Defense Minister and the military have been a part of the planning since they sent people to Portugal for the initial planning in December. They have not been sharing all the info with everybody. NATO did not invite themselves and everybody knew they were coming but, did not have details. And it seems they have been bothering the Ministry of Defense for more details so in repose they gave them none. These seems more to be a communications problem between the Ministry of Defense and other parts of the Government. No doubt everybody wants to know the details of everything and Defense likes to keep details close to the vest. This happens all over in Democratic states. The Military does not like to share for OPSEC reasons and everybody else wants to know all the details.

a reply to: dollukka

Well as Russia has claimed for themselves, the baltic / nato countries have every right to conduct training. With that said Russia is the one holding snap drills, several of which have involved over 80k soldiers.

Putins actions are creating the very response he has issues with. I dont think the west is poking the bear cub. I think the bear cub thinks its larger than it actually is and keeps snapping at the west.

a reply to: Xcathdra

The majority of Western readers even on the theguardian seems to disagree with you. As a member of the theguardian for a few years. We know whose the one creating the chaos and thats not Russia.

NATO has being expanding into eastern Europe further and now it wants Serbia to join it as well. NATO is no longer a defense alliance.

I am sure your the only one who enjoys this.
WE ARE THE WORLD!

Putins actions are creating the very response he has issues with. I dont think the west is poking the bear cub. I think the bear cub thinks its larger than it actually is and keeps snapping at the west.

You are the only poster that I know that would call Russia a bear cub.

Perhaps you should take a history lesson to see what happens to armies when the attack this 'bear cub.'

Perhaps you would like to lead the charge against Mother Russia. I would pay to see that.

P

a reply to: TaleDawn

NATO is a defensive alliance no matter how much propaganda Russia puts out. Secondly soverign nations can decide for themselves who they form alliances with.

So long as Russia doesn't attack a NATO country they are fine with nothing to worry about. As for Eastern Europe have you ever thought 50+ years of Soviet occupation, which came on the heels of nazi occupation, was enough for 1 century?

Maybe Russia shouldn't invade their neighbors / act as if they still SSR's. They might make headway by being nice.

originally posted by: dollukka
This week in Finland out of the blue Finnish defence comittee and Parliament found out information about agreed military drills with NATO. NATO had contacted Finnish defence minister and invited themselves to military drill which NATO organize inside finnish territory and finnish coastland. Parliament and defence committee of Finland were not informed about this and they heard about this first time from the news media. Finland shares the longest border in Europe with Russia and is not a member of NATO.

In next May there is NATO airforce drill with Finnish Karelian airforce in Rissala area, also army military exercise is on a way and BALTOPS 2016 will start in June. BALTOPS drill last year were in Swedish coast and before that 2012 in Estonia. It seems like they are practising how to put a plug in Finnish bay ( already practised in Estonia which is opposite site of the bay ) . Next drill will put more tensions on Russia.

Finnish defenceforce about smaller airforce drill in May

BALTOPS 2015 - Sweden coastline 49 warships and 5600 troops

BALTOPS 2016 - still WIP at the moment 35 NATO warships and 70 aircrafts, UK is sending atm 5 warships and 6000 troops for the drill.

The UK are sending up to 6,000 British troops and five warships to the Baltic as part of an operation to buildup Nato’s military presence against Russia.

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and NATO-backed allies, the UK have decided to significantly increase its presence with other European countries in the region, including Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

NATO say the increase in military on the Russian border is a more “muscular approach” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yournewswire

Are we poking Big Bad Bear Badly by the Summer, will that BBB be provoked as the situation in Russia seems to be tense already by Turkey and now BALTOPS and other military drills are behind next corner.

BALTOPS 2016 - NATO expanding exercises close to Russia - I read recently on the PCR site that linked to another site that the US cannot do much about the fact the Syrians and Russians appear to have the opposition by the short and curleys.

NATO expanding exercises close to Russia is simply trying to goad Russia into attacking them so they, the US , can then scream from the rooftops that Russia have engaged in act of war against them so America and its vassal states can then 'defend' themselves.

Thats all that goin on here. Anyone studying/following the actions of the US and situation in Syria and the Ukraine must do a lot of hard work to come to any other conclusion.

originally posted by: TaleDawn
a reply to: Xcathdra

The majority of Western readers even on the theguardian seems to disagree with you. As a member of the theguardian for a few years. We know whose the one creating the chaos and thats not Russia.

NATO has being expanding into eastern Europe further and now it wants Serbia to join it as well. NATO is no longer a defense alliance.

I am sure your the only one who enjoys this.
WE ARE THE WORLD!

NATO expansion has been supported by Russia the entire time. As Russia joined NATO PfP, took a seat on the G8, formed the Russia NATO council and conducted joint exercise with NATO. You seem to want revise history and pretend Russia was not happily walking hand in hand with NATO until Putin decided he wanted an empire again.

originally posted by: pheonix358

Putins actions are creating the very response he has issues with. I dont think the west is poking the bear cub. I think the bear cub thinks its larger than it actually is and keeps snapping at the west.

You are the only poster that I know that would call Russia a bear cub.

Perhaps you should take a history lesson to see what happens to armies when the attack this 'bear cub.'

Perhaps you would like to lead the charge against Mother Russia. I would pay to see that.

P

The West can Russia without ever firing a bullet. They have sent the Russian economy into chaos with only light sanctions. They could play that much much harder. The West has no need to invade Russia. And if you note Russian history it used to use it vast space, no much less, and vast numbers as it tools for victory. The Russian are out numbered 3 to 1 by NATO. The only thing Russia has going for it is nukes and the Wests complete lack of interest in doing anything about Russia beyond some sanctions.

originally posted by: pheonix358
You are the only poster that I know that would call Russia a bear cub.

Ok how about Russia acting like a Chihuahua? They can slap beware of dog signs all over the place however the fact remains its a tiny dog whose bark and bite are an annoyance and nothing more.

originally posted by: pheonix358
Perhaps you should take a history lesson to see what happens to armies when the attack this 'bear cub.'

Well in the case of the Mongols they pretty much bitch-slapped Russia by conquering it.

Secondly why invade russia? History has shown us that Russia is its own worst enemy and the government usually does something that leads to a collapse, especially during the end of the last century.

With todays advances in technology Generals winter , frost, mud etc wouldn't be an issue today. But I have to ask -

Why do people bring up Russia never being conquered (except the mongols)? Has it occurred that maybe no one is interested in doing it because the days of territorial acquisition are over with? The constant paranoia attached to someone invading russia belongs solely to Russia. They use that talking point to keep the russian people focused on external issues so they dont notice the internal problems are caused by their own government.

originally posted by: pheonix358
Perhaps you would like to lead the charge against Mother Russia. I would pay to see that.

Why invade Russia? No one has an interest on invading Russia and the only people that do are the russian government and their supporters.

I will say there is a first (or second) time for anything. Underestimating an enemy generally leads to years of talking about how that enemy conquered it because the thought it was invincible turned out not to be the case.

I can think of 1 occasion in US history where we were invaded - War of 1812 and it was a draw. So while Russia has been conquered / occupied the US has not and yet only russia brags.

a reply to: Xcathdra

If NATO is a defensive alliance then it no rights to bomb Libya under the false pretexts of Humanitarian concerns. Doesn't matter if they were following the UN resolution or not.

Its rather comical to see that there are few NATO supporters in here. NATO is very much responsible for what happened in Libya and its post intervention.


So long as Russia doesn't attack a NATO country
Yet NATO has every right to bomb countries like Libya and expand further based on the false pretexts ugh?

a reply to: MrSpad

until Putin decided he wanted an empire again.

America is already an Empire and allowing European Union to further to take in more countries the European Union wont be a union but a super state.

As for your claims that Putin wants to wanted an empire again.

I assume you have no issues of another Turkish Ottoman Empire by Erdogan?

Quite the double standards here.

Seeing some of the posters PRO NATO is rather almost comical.

a reply to: MrSpad

They have sent the Russian economy into chaos with only light sanctions.

Those sanctions are also impacting Europe. Europe Needs Russia more then its occpying force America.

originally posted by: TaleDawn
a reply to: MrSpad

until Putin decided he wanted an empire again.

America is already an Empire and allowing European Union to further to take in more countries the European Union wont be a union but a super state.

As for your claims that Putin wants to wanted an empire again.

I assume you have no issues of another Turkish Ottoman Empire by Erdogan?

Quite the double standards here.

America is a great power but, not an empire. It does not rule over most of the planet. Just because sovereign nations see a benefit in being tied to the US does mean they are some how controlled by the US. Nations are free to join or leave things like NATO or the Rio Pact. Nobody is holding a gun to Brazil or Poland or anybody else and forcing them to be in a military alliance with the US. Nobody held a gun to Africa's head and said the African Union has to sign cooperation agreements with NATO. Nobody forced Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Philippines, and Japan to sign mutual defense pacts with the US. Nobody made Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan become US allies. Nobody forces the Gulf States or Israel to sign defense agreements with the US. Nobody threatened India into the trilateral with Japan and the US. Nobody is forcing Vietnam offer US bases. Nobody forced anybody to join NATO, in fact they made it kind of hard to do so.

In fact all of that has been made possible the aggressive actions of two nations. Russia and China. You can agree with it or not but, it seems clear how most of the Planet sees things.

Empires, well the rule by force. You try and leave us and you will lose some territory. They annex other nations territory by force. You want to make case for Turkey then you have to make one for Russia and Syria as well, you know that occupation of Lebanon that went side ways when Assad had their President Assassinated leading to a revolt. Although of those 3 so far only Russia has taken anybody elses territory and kept it.