Page 46 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

Russia benefited from having the joint drills occur, for the first time, in the Baltics, an area of great military
and political significance for Moscow. At the time of Naval Interaction 2017, some of Russia’s largest ships
were maneuvering into the Baltic Sea for the July 30 naval parade at St. Petersburg.

Russia was then also preparing to hold its latest ZAPAD drill with Belarus in September; which, with a
predicted 100,000 troops, worried NATO governments.

The Baltics are a vital region for the Alliance, due to NATO’s need to send reinforcements through the territory
to protect Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

NATO has expanded its air and troop presence since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. NATO held its own
military exercise, BALTOPS-2017, near the Polish-Lithuanian border in June 2017.

NATO had also recently announced its largest upcoming joint exercise with Sweden, “Aurora 17,” scheduled
for September 2017. NATO leaders have criticized Russia for conducting provocative military maneuvers in
the region, with military ships and aircraft operating close to the border without adequate notification or
transparency.

The Russian and Chinese governments understand that the high-profile drills attract the attention of third
parties. On this occasion, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius expressed concern that the Baltic drill
could elevate regional tensions.

NATO allies monitored the PLAN flotilla as it moved through European waters-–for example, British, Dutch,
and Danish warships accompanied China’s fleet through the North Sea and English Channel.

At the time of the drills, the Russian government issued a new doctrinal statement –“Fundamentals of Russia’s
State Naval Policy Through 2030” –which profiles the importance of the Russian Navy in the defense of
Russia’s global economic and security interests.

According to the doctrine, these interests include maintaining access to the energy-rich Middle East and
Caspian Sea regions, as well as sustaining a permanent naval presence in the Mediterranean.
Although the Chinese Navy will likely surpass the size and diversity of the Russian fleet, the Russian Navy
should be able to project power in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East –as confirmed by its extensive combat
support role in the Syrian War.

The Chinese Navy also will strengthen its capacity and presence in coming years.

A 2015 Chinese government white paper states that “It is necessary for China to develop a modern maritime
military force structure commensurate with its national security and development interests […] so as to provide
strategic support for building itself into a maritime power."

According to the PLA, China commissioned 18 ships in 2016, with a total displacement of 150,000 tons. In
April 2017, China launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier; in June, its first destroyer took its
maiden voyage.

In late June 2017, moreover, the PLA Navy launched its first Type 055 destroyer which, at 12,000 tons, is
larger than the U.S. Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The Type 055 ships are expected to serve as the air
defense control centers for future Chinese aircraft carrier battle groups.
China’s second carrier is expected to enter into service in 2020.

Second Line of Defense

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