Suspension_of_cooperation_and_military_build-up NATO–Russia_relations

1 suspension of cooperation , military build-up

1.1 2014
1.2 spearhead force
1.3 2015
1.4 2016
1.5 2017

suspension of cooperation , military build-up
2014

in march 2014, tensions increased between nato , russia result of ukrainian crisis , russia s move annex of crimea: nato urged russia stop actions , said supported ukraine s territorial integrity , sovereignty. on 1 april 2014, nato issued statement nato foreign ministers announced had decided suspend practical civilian , military cooperation between nato , russia. our political dialogue in nato-russia council can continue, necessary, @ ambassadorial level , above, allow exchange views, first , foremost on crisis . statement condemned russia’s illegal military intervention in ukraine , russia’s violation of ukraine’s sovereignty , territorial integrity .

in spring, russian defense ministry announced planning deploy additional forces in crimea part of beefing black sea fleet, including re-deployment 2016 of nuclear-capable tupolev tu-22m3 ( backfire ) long-range strike bombers — used backbone of soviet naval strike units during cold war, later withdrawn bases in crimea. such moves alarmed nato: in november nato s top military commander general philip breedlove said alliance watching indications amid fears on possibility russia move of nuclear arsenal peninsula. in december, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov said legitimate action crimea has become part of country has such weapons under treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

at nato wales summit in september, nato-ukraine commission adopted joint statement condemned russia’s illegal , illegitimate self-declared annexation of crimea , continued , deliberate destabilization of eastern ukraine in violation of international law ; position re-affirmed in december statement same body.

a report released in november highlighted fact close military encounters between russia , west (mainly nato countries) had jumped cold war levels, 40 dangerous or sensitive incidents recorded in 8 months alone, including near-collision between russian reconnaissance plane , passenger plane taking off denmark in march 132 passengers on board. unprecedented increase in russian air force , naval activity in baltic region prompted nato step longstanding rotation of military jets in lithuania. similar russian air force increased activity in asia-pacific region relied on resumed use of abandoned soviet military base @ cam ranh bay, vietnam. in march 2015, russia s defense minister sergey shoygu said russia s long-range bombers continue patrolling various parts of world , expand other regions.

in july, u.s. formally accused russia of having violated 1987 intermediate-range nuclear forces (inf) treaty testing prohibited medium-range ground-launched cruise missile (presumably r-500, modification of iskander) , threatened retaliate accordingly. in june 2015, u.s. state department reported russia had failed correct violation of i.n.f. treaty; u.s. government said have made no discernible headway in making russia acknowledge compliance problem. government s october 2014 report claimed russia had 1,643 nuclear warheads ready launch (an increase 1,537 in 2011) – 1 more us, overtaking first time since 2000; both countries deployed capacity being in violation of 2010 new start treaty sets cap of 1,550 nuclear warheads. likewise, before 2014, had set implementing large-scale program, worth trillion dollars, aimed @ overall revitalization of atomic energy industry, includes plans new generation of weapon carriers , construction of such sites chemistry , metallurgy research replacement facility in los alamos, new mexico , national security campus in south kansas city.

at end of 2014, putin approved revised national military doctrine, listed nato’s military buildup near russian borders top military threat.

the spearhead force

on 2 december 2014, nato foreign ministers announced interim spearhead force (the high readiness joint task force ) created pursuant readiness action plan agreed on @ nato wales summit in september 2014 , meant enhance nato presence in eastern part of alliance. in june 2015, in course of military drills held in poland, nato tested new rapid reaction force first time, more 2,000 troops 9 states taking part in exercise. upon end of drills, nato secretary general jens stoltenberg announced spearhead force deployed in eastern europe increased 40,000 troops.

2015

in february 2015, nato diplomats said concern growing in nato on russia s nuclear strategy , indications russia s nuclear strategy appeared point lowering of threshold using nuclear weapons in conflict. conclusion followed british defense secretary michael fallon saying britain must update nuclear arsenal in response russian modernization of nuclear forces. later in february, fallon said putin repeat tactics used in ukraine in baltic members of nato alliance; said: nato has ready kind of aggression russia, whatever form takes. nato getting ready. fallon noted not new cold war russia, situation “pretty warm”.

in march 2015, russia, citing nato s de facto breach of 1990 treaty on conventional armed forces in europe, said suspension of participation in it, announced in 2007, complete through halting participation in consulting group on treaty.

early april 2015 saw publication of leaked information ascribed semi-official sources within russian military , intelligence establishment, russia s alleged preparedness nuclear response inimical non-nuclear acts on part of nato; such implied threats interpreted attempt create strategic uncertainty , undermine western political cohesion. in vein, norway’s defense minister, ine eriksen soreide, noted russia had created uncertainty intentions .

in june 2015, independent russian military analyst quoted major american newspaper saying: “everybody should understand living in totally different world 2 years ago. in world, lost, possible organize security treaties, mutual-trust measures. have come absolutely different situation, general way ensure security military deterrence.”

on 16 june 2015, tass quoted russian deputy foreign minister aleksey meshkov saying none of russia-nato programs used @ work functioning @ working level.

in late june 2015, while on trip estonia, defence secretary ashton carter said deploy heavy weapons, including tanks, armoured vehicles , artillery, in bulgaria, estonia, latvia, lithuania, poland, , romania. move interpreted western commentators marking beginning of reorientation of nato′s strategy. called senior russian defence ministry official ″the aggressive act washington since cold war″ , criticised russian foreign ministry inadequate in military terms , obvious return united states , allies schemes of ‘the cold war’ . on part, u.s. expressed concern on putin s announcement of plans add on 40 new ballistic missiles russia′s nuclear weapons arsenal in 2015. american observers , analysts, such steven pifer, noting u.s. had no reason alarm new missiles, provided russia remained within limits of 2010 new strategic arms reduction treaty (new start), viewed ratcheting-up of nuclear saber-rattling russia′s leadership bluff , bluster designed conceal russia′s weaknesses; however, pifer suggested alarming motivation behind rhetoric putin seeing nuclear weapons not merely tools of deterrence, tools of coercion. meanwhile, @ end of june 2015, reported production schedule new russian mirv-equipped, super-heavy thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missile sarmat, intended replace obsolete soviet-era ss-18 satan missiles, slipping. noted commentators inevitable financial , technological constraints hamper real arms race west, if such course embarked on russia.

nato-russia tensions rose further after, on 24 november 2015, turkey shot down russian warplane allegedly violated turkish airspace while on mission in northwestern syria. russian officials denied plane had entered turkish airspace. shortly after incident, nato called emergency meeting discuss matter.

on 2 december 2015, nato member states formally invited montenegro join alliance, drew response russia suspend cooperation country.

2016

shortly before meeting of russia–nato council @ level of permanent representatives on 20 april, first such meeting since june 2014, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov cited saw unprecedented military buildup since end of cold war , presence of nato on so-called eastern flank of alliance goal of exerting military , political pressure on russia containing , , said russia not plan , not drawn senseless confrontation , convinced there no reasonable alternative mutually beneficial all-european cooperation in security sphere based on principle of indivisibility of security relying on international law. after meeting, russian ambassador nato said russia feeling comfortable without having co-operative relations alliance; noted @ time russia , nato had no positive agenda pursue. nato secretary general, jens stoltenberg, said: nato , russia have profound , persistent disagreements. today’s meeting did not change that. opening of first site of nato missile defence system in deveselu, romania, in may 2016 led russia reiterate position u.s.-built system undermined russia’s security, posed ″direct threat global , regional security″, in violation of inf, , measures ″being taken ensure necessary level of security russia″.

the nato summit held in warsaw in july 2016 approved plan move 4 battalions totaling 3,000 4,000 troops on rotating basis 2017 baltic states , eastern poland , increase air , sea patrols reassure allies once part of soviet bloc. adopted communique explained decision meant unambiguously demonstrate, part of our overall posture, allies’ solidarity, determination, , ability act triggering immediate allied response aggression. summit reaffirmed nato′s taken decision suspend practical civilian , military cooperation between nato , russia, while remaining open political dialogue russia . heads of state , government condemned russia’s ongoing , wide-ranging military build-up in crimea , expressed concern on russia’s efforts , stated plans further military build-up in black sea region . stated russia’s significant military presence , support regime in syria , , military build-up in eastern mediterranean posed further risks , challenges security of allies , others . nato leaders agreed step support ukraine: in meeting of nato-ukraine commission, allied leaders reviewed security situation president of ukraine poroshenko, welcomed government’s plans reform, , endorsed comprehensive assistance package ukraine aimed make ukraine’s defence , security institutions more effective, efficient , accountable . @ meeting of russia–nato council @ level of permanent representatives held shortly after warsaw summit, russia admonished nato against intensifying military activity in black sea. russia said agreed have military aircraft pilots flying on baltic region turn on cockpit transmitters, known transponders, if nato planes acted likewise.

mid-july 2016, russia′s military announced regiment of long-range surface-to-air s-400 weapon system deployed in city of feodosia in crimea in august year, beefing russia’s anti-access/area-denial capabilities around peninsula.

2017

in july 2017, nato-russia council met in brussels. following meeting, nato secretary general jens stoltenberg said allies , russia had had ″frank , constructive discussion″ on ukraine, afghanistan, , transparency , risk reduction. 2 sides briefed each other on upcoming russia′s/belarus′ zapad 2017 exercise, , nato′s exercise trident javelin 2017, respectively.

at end of august 2017, nato declared nato’s 4 multinational battlegroups in estonia, latvia, lithuania , poland operational, move implemented pursuant decision taken @ 2016 warsaw summit.