NATO’s Stronger Baltic Force Riles Russia A Canadian military deployment completes NATO’s buildup in the Baltic region, even as Russia says such moves undermine security By Julian E. Barnes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/natos-stronger-baltic-force-riles-russia-1497887136?mod=nwsrl_europe_news
ADAZI, Latvia—The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said its deterrent force is fully in place in the Baltic area with the addition of a Canadian-led battle group in Latvia, enhancing deployments criticized by Russia.
A ceremony on Monday, featuring parading troops from Latvia, Canada, Poland, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Albania, marked complete deployment of the fourth and final alliance battle group to the Baltic region. In all, NATO has positioned some 4,500 troops in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland.
Allied and Russian forces have both been building up in the Baltic region. The deployments have raised the risk of miscalculation, some analysts said, but both sides have said they are necessary defensive initiatives.
The U.S. has deployed a tank brigade to Central and Eastern Europe and is conducting exercises in the Baltic Sea region. This month, the U.S. flew B-2 stealth bombers to Europe for what American military officials called a demonstration of reassurance for allies. The U.S. has also deployed other bombers and Army units for exercises in the Baltic Sea area.
Russia, too, is enlarging its forces. It is creating a larger permanent military presence in the region, including missiles and new army units, moves it says counter the NATO deployments. Russia and Belarus are also preparing for a large military exercise in September.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he didn’t see any “imminent threat” to NATO forces or the Baltic states. He also said he hoped to convene a meeting between NATO ambassadors and their Russian counterpart so the two sides could brief each other on coming exercises.
“We see increased military presence in this region,” Mr. Stoltenberg said in an interview. “The increased military presence underlines the importance of transparency, predictability. and risk reduction.”
Russia has said the NATO deployment violates an agreement with Moscow not to permanently station significant combat forces on Russia’s borders.
Russian officials have consistently said the NATO force is undermining, not improving, security. Alexander Grushko, the Russian ambassador to NATO, recently said the alliance should focus on fighting terrorism, not defending against Moscow.
Mr. Grushko also said NATO’s buildup risked an arms race. “The situation is dangerous,” he said. “We know from our previous experience when there is a military dynamic…it will reproduce the logic of having additional assets, additional assets, additional assets.”
Mr. Stoltenberg said the alliance hadn’t violated agreements with Russia. Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said the NATO arrangements were clearly defensive. He said it was Russia that had committed aggression by annexing Crimea, prompting Canada to deploy its largest force to Europe since the Cold War.
“You really have to ask Russia that question: Who is the aggressor here,” Mr. Sajjan said in an interview. “We, with NATO, are sending an important message for our alliance, we stand together.…This is not an aggressive message.”
In recent months, the alliance has had to deal with political sensitivities as U.S. President Donald Trump has said European powers don’t spend enough on their militaries, and questions have been raised about whether the U.S. would live up to its commitment to defend allies.
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