NATO Holds Massive War Exercises, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: We're Returning to the Cold War

JAKARTA - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the RIA news agency that the large-scale military exercise entitled 'Steadfast Defender 2024' held by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), marked the alliance's return to the Cold War pattern.

"This exercise is another element of the hybrid war that the West is waging against Russia," Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko told RIA, as reported by Reuters, on January 22.

"An exercise of this magnitude marks NATO's return to the final and irrevocable Cold War scheme, when military planning processes, resources, and infrastructure were being prepared for confrontation with Russia," he explained.

As previously reported, NATO held its largest military exercise since the Cold War, practicing how United States troops could strengthen European allies in countries bordering Russia and on the alliance's eastern flank, if conflict flared with a "level" enemy.

About 90,000 troops will join the 'Steadfast Defender 2024' exercise that will last until May, the alliance's top military commander General Chris Cavoli said on Thursday.

The main weapons systems (Alutsista) deployed in this exercise include more than 50 ships ranging from aircraft carriers to destroyers, more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters, and drones, as well as at least 1,100 combat vehicles including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles. Nato said.

General Cavoli said the drills would train the implementation of NATO's regional plan, the first defense plan the alliance has drawn up in decades, detailing how NATO would respond to a Russian attack.

NATO did not mention Russia by name in its announcement. However, its main strategic document identifies Russia as the most significant and immediate threat to the security of NATO members.

"Steadfast Defender 2024 will demonstrate NATO's ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance, to strengthen Europe's defenses," NATO said.

It is known that the last exercise with more than the current participant size was 'Reforger' which was held during the Cold War in 1988 with 125,000 participants. Next came 'Trident Juncture' in 2018 with 50,000 participants, according to NATO.

Meanwhile Moscow and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov himself frequently accuse the "Western collective" of waging a "hybrid war" against Russia, by supporting Ukraine with financial and military aid.