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Bruce K. Anderson

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Bruce K. Anderson

Tag Archives: Kaliningrad

Zapad 2013: the Belarusian and Russian armies’ anti-NATO integration exercises

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in Baltics, European News, Foreign Policy, Military and Defense, Russia

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Tags

Baltic Sea, Belarus, Kaliningrad, Military exercise, NATO, Russia, Russian Armed Forces, Steadfast Jazz 2013, Zapad 2013

Russian Army T-90A during a training exercise.

Russian Army T-90A during a training exercise. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Andrzej Wilk, Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Sept. 25, 2013

On 20-26 September, the active (military) phase of the strategic-level exercises held by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus, entitled ‘West 2013’, were held. This was the largest joint exercise both armies had ever carried out; including the ranges in the western part of Belarus, Kaliningrad and the Baltic Sea, over 22,000 soldiers took part in it. For the Russian army, ‘West 2013’ did not constitute a particular challenge, coming as it did as part of the larger series of exercises arranged in parallel in the Murmansk oblast and the Barents Sea. For the Belarusian army, however, this year’s joint exercises are the biggest undertaking in military training it has carried out for two decades. Above all, ‘West 2013’ was a test of the integration of the Belarusian and Russian armies, and particularly of the former’s ability to act within the norms and structures of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The scenario and nature of the ‘West 2013’ exercises leave no doubt that the Russian/Belarusian forces are training to conduct regular military operations, and their potential opponent is the NATO countries bordering with Russia and Belarus. In political terms, however, we can observe a certain duality in Russia’s approach to NATO. On the one hand – thanks to the information about the exercises reported in media – we see that Moscow is aiming to provoke a negative reaction from its western neighbours. But on the other – from its joint non-military exercises (the ‘Vigilant Sky 2013’ anti-terrorist exercises held in parallel with ‘West 2013’) – it has tried to allay NATO’s concerns regarding the objectives of Russia’s military policy towards Europe… (more)

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Estonian worries about Russian moves in the Baltic region

05 Saturday May 2012

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Military and Defense, Russia

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Estonia, Iskander, Kaliningrad, Russia

Locator map of the Baltic region – Estonia, La...

Locator map of the Baltic region – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the russian Kaliningrad Oblast. Deutsch: Lagekarte des Baltikums – Estland, Lettland, Litauen und Oblast Kaliningrad. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some Estonian officials are raising warnings about changes to the Russian units and weapons in the Baltic region, such as the Iskander missiles and S-400 anti-aircraft weapon system recently stationed in Kaliningrad, suggesting that it is part of a more aggressive Russian strategy for the region.

Estonian Ministry Document Warns of Russian Military Expansion

Meanwhile other Estonian officials say not to worry, it’s modernization and not really a threat.

Retired Estonian General Brushes Off Fears Over Russian Military Activity

 

Russia reportedly suspends missile threat

08 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by Bruce K. Anderson in European News, Military and Defense, Russia

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Tags

Kaliningrad, Missile Defense, Poland, Russia

The Russians are apparently backing off from their threat to place ground-to-air missiles in Kaliningrad, the enclave the Soviets carved out of Poland as a condition of ending their occupation at the end of the Cold War.

No clear word on why the Russians are holding off. But…

According to the report, “Interfax cited the military official as saying the Iskander plan has been suspended because the new U.S. administration is not so far pushing for deployment of the missile shield.”

Or, maybe the missiles don’t work as claimed, maybe there aren’t enough spare parts, etc…

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28888880/#.T4GzZftzVWU

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