Russia

Russia prepared for US tanks in Eastern Europe

The representative of Russia to NATO criticized the U.S. plans to deploy an armored brigade in Eastern Europe. In total, the Moscow but left. A possible reason is that The Russian army has already responded.

Alexander Grushko criticized on Thursday the U.S. plans to deploy an armored brigade in Eastern Europe. The permanent representative of Russia to NATO in Brussels said in a statement to the DW of a “next step, writes a Transition of NATO to the confrontational Patterns.” Its military importance had to be regarded in connection with other efforts of the Alliance to strengthen its “Eastern flank”. Grushko mentioned “constant troop rotations, Exercises, Air Policing, the reinforcement of the activities in the Baltic and in the Black sea, the construction of additional rods, modernization of military infrastructure.”

All of this weakness of the European security, the Russian Diplomat said. Also, the viability of the Russia-NATO founding act of 1997 as “one of the last effective pillars” of this security was in doubt. Russian military experts, the US would analyze the announcements and the appropriate corrections for the Russian military planning, said Grushko.

Overall, it seems Russia, however, reacted relatively calmly to the US plans. Both the Exterior as well as the Ministry of defense in Moscow were first of all. Also in Russian media, this is not a Top issue.

Presence according to the principle of rotation

The Pentagon is concretized on Wednesday, the former Russian plans. Accordingly, as of February 2017, in a complete armored brigade with a total of 4200 soldiers, 250 tanks and other heavy war to be stationed unit on the Eastern flank of NATO. The Brigade is supposed to change according to a rotation principle, the location of various Eastern European countries. To which countries is, is still open. All of the nine months troops and Material are to be replaced.

“Conversations about the military activities of NATO have only rotational in character, can no more mislead,” says Grushko. “Continuous rotations differ little from a permanent military presence in the classical sense.” Furthermore, the articles of war to be kept in Europe, so the Russian representative.

Washington justified its decision by the fact that in Eastern Europe to support NATO-States “in the face of an aggressive Russia”. As a trigger for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

“Conversations about what the military activities of NATO have only rotational character, can’t be more mistaken,” says Grushko. “Continuous rotations differ little from a permanent military presence in the classical sense.”Furthermore, the articles of war to be kept in Europe, so the Russian.

New divisions and the tank army

The Russian military expert Alexander Golz

Moscow reacted so far in a relatively relaxed on these US plans have a simple explanation, says Alexander Golts. “The deployment of the armoured brigade, in the framework of the decisions of the NATO summit in Wales in 2014”, says Russian military expert. “Russia has already responded.”

So Moscow have announced plans to establish new divisions in the West of the country. About their number there is different information. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said only a few days ago, Russia will continue the installation of two new divisions in its Western military district. “NATO is expanding its military potential in Europe, even in the immediate vicinity of the Russian border”, – said Shoigu. Russia was concerned – and to respond to forced. Earlier, the defence Minister addressed three new divisions in Russia’s West. One of these divisions on the Basis of a Brigade in the territory of Smolensk to the border with Belarus.

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In addition, the Russian defense Ministry announced at the beginning of February 2016, and the reconstruction of the 1. Panzer army, which was disbanded in 1998, in the West of the country. The new army is created on the basis of existing divisions and brigades will be reorganized and strengthened. Such a step was “logical”, because the United States and NATO operate in an “always clearer strategy of containment of Russia,” wrote the state news Agency RIA NOVOSTI. This tank army was part of the Russian response to the increased military presence in the U.S. in Eastern Europe, says Alexander Golts.

“No confrontation like in the Cold war”

The increase of US military presence in Eastern NATO countries and the Russian troop reinforcements to the West of the country was “by no means a repetition of the confrontation in the previous Cold war,” says the military expert. “At that time, hundreds of thousands of armed people were.”

Golz sees in the recent U.S.-plans the desire to be on a possible so-called “hybrid war”, as in the case of the annexation of the Crimea by Russia is prepared”. The number of troops or tanks are not to be so important.

Russia’s representative to NATO Grushko sees the measures announced by the Alliance as a further burden “to the already complicated relationships” of his country to the NATO. An impact on practical cooperation, you are not likely to have. “It is difficult not to influence what exists,” said Russia’s representative to NATO. The Alliance had torn the entire collaboration.