Russia has criticized five Nordic nations for signing a joint defense pact, accusing the governments of Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden of "confrontational approaches" to regional defense and security issues.
Sunday's Russian Foreign Ministry critique came just days after Nordic leaders, in a formal declaration, agreed to boost military cooperation in the face of what the document described as "aggressive" Russian military behavior in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.
Military tensions between Russia and Western governments have risen dramatically in the past 12 months, as the pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine has gained strength and direct Russian military involvement in the uprising has become more apparent.
The Nordic ministers also cited "increasing [Russian] military and intelligence activity in the Baltics," and noted ongoing Russian military faceoffs along the borders of Nordic and NATO countries. It describes Russian military activity as "the biggest challenge to the European security."
In a thinly veiled reference to Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, the Nordic ministers describe Russian leaders as having "shown that they are prepared to make practical and effective use of military means in order to reach their political goals."
For its part, Moscow has flatly rejected accusations from NATO and its Nordic allies of direct involvement in the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin has also warned the West against using those accusations to justify increased Western military aid to non-NATO Ukraine.
The Nordic defense pact calls for more joint military exercises, and a boost in defense sector cooperation. It also calls for a joint exchange of intelligence information, in a move seen as pulling non-NATO Finland and Sweden closer to the 28-nation military alliance.
Sunday's Russian Foreign Ministry critique came just days after Nordic leaders, in a formal declaration, agreed to boost military cooperation in the face of what the document described as "aggressive" Russian military behavior in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.
Military tensions between Russia and Western governments have risen dramatically in the past 12 months, as the pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine has gained strength and direct Russian military involvement in the uprising has become more apparent.
The Nordic ministers also cited "increasing [Russian] military and intelligence activity in the Baltics," and noted ongoing Russian military faceoffs along the borders of Nordic and NATO countries. It describes Russian military activity as "the biggest challenge to the European security."
In a thinly veiled reference to Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula, the Nordic ministers describe Russian leaders as having "shown that they are prepared to make practical and effective use of military means in order to reach their political goals."
For its part, Moscow has flatly rejected accusations from NATO and its Nordic allies of direct involvement in the Ukraine crisis. The Kremlin has also warned the West against using those accusations to justify increased Western military aid to non-NATO Ukraine.
The Nordic defense pact calls for more joint military exercises, and a boost in defense sector cooperation. It also calls for a joint exchange of intelligence information, in a move seen as pulling non-NATO Finland and Sweden closer to the 28-nation military alliance.
[voanews.com]
12/4/15
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Russia Apprehensive as Sweden and Finland Move Closer to NATO....
ReplyDeleteRussia's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that moves by Finland and Sweden towards closer ties with NATO were of "special concern."
The comments were published in relation to an article in the newspaper Aftenposten, where in a joint declaration, the defence ministers of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland said northern Europe must prepare for possible crises or incidents because of Russia.
Finland, which borders its former ruler Russia, and Sweden are not members of NATO but have increased cooperation with the trans-Atlantic alliance, and the joint declaration has been among their strongest responses to Russia's aggression.
Finish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb called the Russian statement "sabre-rattling," but said one should not be startled by it.
"No other country, of course, has a veto over Finland's decisions," Stubb, who would like to see Finland join NATO, told public broadcaster YLE.
He said the security policy situation had changed after the crises in Georgia and Ukraine, which will impact security policy in the region.
"One essential pillar of our international [defense] cooperation is what we do with Sweden. It is also clear that we will continue a close cooperation inside the EU and a close partnership with NATO.
REUTERS
themoscowtimes.com
12/4/15
Schweden, Dänemark, Norwegen, Finnland und Island haben ein Abkommen zum Ausbau ihrer Militärkooperation geschlossen, schreibt die Zeitung „Nowyje Iswestija“ am Montag...
ReplyDeleteDie fünf nordischen Länder werden gemeinsame Übungen durchführen, Aufklärungsdaten austauschen, gegenseitig Militärstützpunkte zur Verfügung stellen sowie die Bedingungen für die gemeinsame Produktion von Rüstungsunternehmen vereinfachen.
Der Wortlaut des Vertrags über das neue Militärbündnis, an dem drei NATO-Mitgliedsstaaten und zwei neutrale Staaten – Schweden und Finnland — teilnehmen, wurde Ende vergangener Woche in den führenden Zeitungen der fünf Länder veröffentlicht.
Die nordischen Länder arbeiten aus Angst vor Russland zusammen. Die Verteidigungsminister der fünf Länder erklärten in der Präambel des Abkommens, dass „die Handlungen Russlands die Sicherheit in Europa herausfordern. Infolge dessen verschlechterte sich die Situation in der nordeuropäischen Region. Wir müssen uns auf neue Krisen oder Zwischenfälle gefasst machen.”
Stockholm, Oslo, Kopenhagen, Helsinki und Reykjavik weisen in Bezug auf die russische “Aggression” vor allem auf den Krim-Beitritt und die Militäreinätze im Osten der Ukraine, aber auch auf die Zuspitzung der Spannungen in Nordeuropa hin.............http://sptnkne.ws/dgQ
13/4/15