Baltic nations are increasingly worried that Russian war games set for this autumn will see President Vladimir Putin send as many as 100,000 troops to Belarus’ border with Lithuania and Poland -- the very edge of the Kremlin’s sphere of influence with eastern Europe.
At a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Russia, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, said he’d met recently with Baltic ambassadors who said the planned “Zapad” exercises, set for September, could involve that many Russian troops, which would be a significant increase on the number that took part in previous drills under the same name in 2013 and 2009.
U.S. Gen. Phillip Breedlove, who was the Supreme Commander for NATO until May last year, said the name for the exercise -- the Russian word for “west” -- combined with the fact that he’s heard it could involve at least 100,000 troops -- possibly twice that many -- is “a bit alarming.”
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More News On Growing Tensions Between The Baltics And Russia
Baltic states seek more NATO help ahead of Russian exercise -- Reuters
Lithuanian President Says Baltics Seek Greater NATO Security Ahead Of Russian Exercises -- RFE
Baltic States ask for more Nato help ahead of Russia's Zapad exercise -- IBTimes
Lithuania Accuses Russia of “Demonstrative Preparation” For War on the West -- Newsweek
Vladimir Putin calls snap Russia air-raid drill involving 45,000 troops and 150 aircraft -- Independent
U.S. Army tanks reach Latvia; Russia calls NATO moves a threat -- UPI
Russian Official Calls Romania 'A Clear Threat' And NATO Outpost -- RFE
NATO buildup in E. Europe threat to Russian security, increases risk of incidents – Moscow -- RT
NATO's Deployment in Baltics Threatens Russia - Deputy Foreign Minister -- Sputnik
