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Massive Trident Juncture NATO exercise to deter Russian threat

NATO troops are in Norway amid growing concerns about Russian aggression, but Moscow says it could be forced to respond.

By Sharon Marris, news reporter

Thursday 25 October 2018 19:55, UK

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Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 brings together around 50,000 personnel, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft.
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Around 50,000 NATO troops have started the organisation's largest exercise in decades, despite anger across the border in Russia.

Personnel from the alliance's 29 countries, along with partners Finland and Sweden, will be joined by 65 vessels, 250 aircraft and around 10,000 tanks, trucks and other military vehicles.

Trident Juncture, which runs until 7 November, is based around restoring Norway's sovereignty after an attack by a "fictitious aggressor".

The main fear for countries in this part of the world is growing aggression from Russia, which has annexed Crimea and is accused of destabilising Ukraine.

U.S. Admiral James G. Foggo, Commander of the NATO Trident Juncture exercise, speaks to the media in Oslo, Norway October 25
Image: US Admiral James Foggo said NATO troops would be demonstrating capability

US Admiral James Foggo said that NATO troops would be "demonstrating our capability to bring a large force to bear on a problem that is an Article 5 problem".

Article 5 is the NATO pact of mutual defence among member countries.

The 93rd Battalion of the German 9th Armoured Brigade receive a helicopter safety instruction near Rena. This allows the units of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force to use helicopters as a mode of transport safely. The US 12th Combat Aviations Brigade provides the training. During Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway they certify themselves for this task. Some 50.000 troops, 10.000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 65 ships from 30 NATO Nations take part.
Image: Around 50,000 troops are involved in the exercise. Pic: Capt Kylee Ashton

The exercise is the biggest seen in Norway since the 1980s and its size is seen as a sign that the alliance is increasingly concerned about Russia.

For its part, Russia criticised the exercise, despite having held a similar one only last month - Vostok 2018.

During Vostok, Russia President Vladimir Putin had said: "We do not want and cannot have any aggressive plans."

HMS WESTMINSTER and 814 Squadron Merlin Mk 2 preparing for Trident Juncture.
Image: The exercise runs until 7 November
The 93rd Battalion of the German 9th Armoured Brigade receive a helicopter safety instruction near Rena. This allows the units of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force to use helicopters as a mode of transport safely. The US 12th Combat Aviations Brigade provides the training. During Exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in Norway they certify themselves for this task. Some 50.000 troops, 10.000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 65 ships from 30 NATO Nations take part.
Image: There are 250 aircraft involved in the biggest exercise Norway has seen since the 1980s

Critics said Vostok was for the benefit of Russian civilians and the West, a show put on despite a shrinking Russian defence budget.

Defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the NATO exercise would be "simulating offensive military action", adding: "NATO's military activities near our borders have reached the highest level since the Cold War times."

German Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Company Multinational Engineer Battalion at Trident Juncture. Pic: PO2 William dodge
Image: Temperatures at the training ground are below freezing. Pic: PO2 William Dodge
A line of 350 US Marines begins to march across the Icelandic terrain preparing for NATO...s Exercise Trident Juncture. Pic: Capt Kylee Ashton
Image: US Marines in Iceland preparing for Trident Juncture in Norway. Pic: Capt Kylee Ashton

Russia has been briefed about the exercise and given the opportunity to monitor it but Mr Shoigu said his country could be forced to respond, according to reports.

In a newspaper article, Nordic defence and foreign ministers said they saw "no military threats against the Nordic countries today, but we live in an unpredictable and uncertain time".

"Russia has both shown the will and ability to use military force to achieve strategic goals," they said.

"Cyber attacks and disinformation are actively used to create divisions between people in Europe as well as in the United States, which in turn challenges democratic institutions and our ability to reach common conclusions."

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