Page 77 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

FIGURE 24 THE BALTICS AND THE NORTHERN REGION.
As one Russian source has put it with regard to characterizing with disdain NATO exercises:

The West keeps accusing Russia of aggression towards neighboring countries and this is largely bluff in order to
make it appear strong, Alexander Mercouris, international affairs expert, told RT.

He suggests it’s a dangerous game because it does bring NATO troops very close to Russian borders.

RT: We're seeing this massive build-up in the Baltic states, while another NATO member, Norway, is also holding
massive military exercises on Russia's borders.Is the US-led bloc preparing for war?

Alexander Mercouris: No I doubt they are preparing for war, I doubt anybody seriously contemplates war with
Russia which is a nuclear power, and it will be a suicidal idea. What I think we are seeing is a show force basically
to conceal the fact that Western policy over Ukraine is falling apart, and all sorts of Western politicians and
political leaders who made a very strong pitch on Ukraine now find that they have to do something to show that
they are still a force to be counted on.
RT: How justified are these claims by some Western officials that Russia could be preparing to test NATO's
resolve by invading a member country?

AM: There is no justification for that whatsoever. Russia has never attacked a NATO-state. It didn’t do so when it
was a part of the Soviet Union. There is no threat from Russia to do so, and this whole thing is completely illusory.
I’m absolutely sure that everybody in the government, in the West, in NATO knows that very well.

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/239201-us-nato-troops-baltic-states/

And providing token forces as symbols of intent are not enough as well.

Page 76