In the 21st century, it would seem that no large-scale conflicts should happen - humanity has well mastered the experience of the Second World War with its innumerable human casualties and numerous destruction. Nevertheless, almost all the states of the world have their own armies, which have the latest weapons in their arsenal, and their combat effectiveness is constantly being improved and maintained, for which the troops are constantly conducting military exercises. They work out various scenarios of probable conflicts.
Purpose of military exercises
Today, more and more talk is about the beginning of a new Cold War, this time it is allegedly being waged between Russia and the NATO military alliance. In response to the expanding influence of the Western bloc, Russia is increasing its defense potential. The parties accuse each other of building up forces, each states that all his actions in this area are caused only by the need to protect their borders from the alleged aggressor.
Over the past 200 years, the West has made more than one attempt to conquer the vast expanses of Russia, which should be able to protect its lands today. Russian military exercises have a specific goal - to make the army capable of repelling possible aggression against the country. The Russian people did not show hostility to neighboring states and always only defended their right to live in their native land.
In turn, the West still remembers how the Red Army marched across Europe. They believe that if it were not for the troops of the allies that had occupied West Berlin, then the USSR could have captured all of Europe. As a result, it turns out that the Russian Federation, waiting for the violation of its borders, conducts training exercises near them, while in the West this is regarded as a training exercise near the borders of NATO.
Russian military exercises
So, in the summer of 2014, tactical exercises were held in the Kaliningrad region, which is located in close proximity to the Baltic countries and borders on Poland. The emphasis in these exercises was on the defense of the state border by the forces of the fleet, the struggle against the naval forces of a conditional enemy, and actions were also worked out for defense against air attacks and landings. It is worth noting that these maneuvers began immediately after the start of NATO exercises in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
In connection with the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine in Russia, military exercises were held on the border with a neighboring state, which were very worried in the United States, which, however, is not surprising. Since the entry of Crimea into the Russian Federation , tactical maneuvers have also been held repeatedly on the peninsula and in the Black Sea, which indicate that Russia is able to defend its borders in this direction.
NATO bloc exercises
At first glance, it might seem that the North Atlantic Alliance very often conducts exercises near the Russian borders, at least there are a lot of military bases of the block around it. And what territory is now not included in the zone of US national interests? NATO military exercises are conducted in the Baltic States, the Caucasus, and the Pacific Ocean. In the current situation, the alliance seeks to expand its zone of influence on Ukraine, which for Russia, in general, is unacceptable.
Perhaps it would be wrong to perceive the activity of NATO near the Russian borders as a manifestation of a certain hostility, because most of the countries of the military bloc are located in Europe, respectively, they conduct maneuvers on their territory. The Alliance believes that a threat from the east and south hangs over it, therefore, it is trying to insure itself in precisely these areas.
Joint exercises
Nevertheless, many tactical maneuvers take place collectively when traditional geopolitical opponents work together to develop scenarios of possible actions to confront a conditional common enemy or aimed at combating international terrorism.
Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance are no exception. Of course, tensions have recently appeared in their relations, but even disagreements on the Ukrainian issue cannot force these large geopolitical players to completely refuse to cooperate. For example, in June 2015, joint military exercises of Russia and NATO take place, in which interactions to combat air terrorism are being developed.
Even the most ambitious military exercises are more likely to indicate the desire of the world community to protect themselves from sudden threats, whether it be terrorism or aggression by any state. It is unlikely that today anyone is seriously thinking about the beginning of a big war.