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NATO "Trident Junction 18" Maneuvers in Trondheim, Norway, October 31, 2018. REUTERS
With 50,000 Atlantic Alliance personnel deployed in Norway, NATO has been carrying out its most important maneuvers since the end of the Cold War since October 25 and until November 7, as "Trident Juncture 18". These maneuvers were seen as a provocation by Russia who decided to carry out from Thursday three days of missile drills off Norway in an area of international waters where NATO has planned to perform some of his maneuvers. An NATO-Russia Council was held in Brussels on Wednesday and both sides exchanged information on their reciprocal exercises. The statements of mutual distrust have been muted but the maneuvers, they continue more beautiful.
With our special correspondent in Trondheim , Pierre Bénazet
In the deafening din of naval artillery fire, helicopter ballet and fighter-bombers, landing craft stand out from Diksmuide and Dutch ship Johan de Wit in the southern Trondheim fjord.
After the explosion of anti-submarine mines, French, British, German and Dutch infantry followed by armored personnel carriers set foot on Byneset beach.
The demonstration of the allied armies lasts barely an hour and a half, a summary of what the NATO forces can achieve in terms of amphibious combat. Although this is not the stated goal, the maneuver demonstrates NATO's ability to project forces near Russia.
" We have seen an increased presence of Russia in the Arctic. Of course, the reason we are strengthening our collective defense and also strengthening our presence in the Far North is because of what we see on the Russian side and because we need to protect North Atlantic shipping lines. . Linking North America and Europe is vital for NATO, "said Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance.
The great maneuvers of NATO last until November 7 and the allies intend to demonstrate their maximum capacity for action in the Far North.