In the Baltic countries and Poland coming to the end of the annual NATO exercise "Beat swords". Although the number of participants exceeded this year 18 thousand. human. Any breakthrough in NATO's readiness to reflect the "Russian aggression" is not observed.
Recall, international NATO exercises under the supervision of the European Command of the US Army started in Latvia 3 June. They are attended by soldiers from 19 nations. As always, the purpose of the maneuvers is to improve the understanding of American troops from the allies and increase their overall readiness to respond to crises.
Fortunately or unfortunately, nothing new could not be seen on approaching the end of the exercise. Although the Americans, together with their Baltic fans did their best to persuade Russia to reverse.
On the eve of maneuvers on the website of the US Army Command pamphlet appeared with the main stages of the maneuvers in Europe. One of the most important points was listed transfer of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment from Germany through the Czech Republic to Latvia, Poland and Lithuania. Despite assurances from the Americans, no event with a capital letter it is not. Previously, the regiment or its affiliated companies have repeatedly took long road marches in Poland and the Baltics (operations Dragon Ride and Dragon Ride II).
Another "know-how" of the exercise was the arrival on Estonian Air Base Ämari 10 American fighter F-16 Fighting Falcon. An employee of the American Embassy in Tallinn, Lt. Col. USAF Spencer Burkhalter (Spencer Burkhalter) He stated, that the arrival of these aircraft at the Ämari airbase tests capabilities, which have recently intensified due to US investment and Estonia in infrastructure.
But the events with a capital letter again failed. the, who are interested in the behavior of US troops in Europe known, that as part of a "package of measures to strengthen security at the theater" (Theater Security Package) 10 US aircraft has consistently appear on Amari. Now, if within the Saber Strike airbase could take at least 20 American fighters, would, than to show off, but no. They all also ten.
Furthermore, for the loud headlines of large-scale international Saber Strike exercise in the Baltic States is the reality, that all their "international" - no more than three thousand foreign soldiers in every country and that is not at the same time (without taking into account the rotational forces of the USA and NATO in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia). A larger number of partners to adopt Baltic infrastructure still can not.
As a result, the sensational (Western press) Saber Strike exercise demonstrated not NATO's readiness to respond to crises, and the need to reflect the population of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia about, Where the money goes on defense, If the military issued a long time for the progress achieved ... “success”?
