NATO's Finland exercises stir Kremlin outcry amid escalating tensions

In a few days, major NATO alliance exercises will begin in Finland. The manoeuvres will be part of Steadfast Defender 2024, which involves actions in the air, on land, and at sea. Due to the proximity to the Russian border, Moscow is already sending a message about "deliberately inciting hysteria".

Undoubtedly, the war in Ukraine has changed Western countries' perceptions of potential threats from Russia. Following the outbreak of a full-scale armed conflict, Finland and Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership. This application was positively received, turning the Baltic Sea into an almost "internal lake" of the alliance. Russia, which has three large ports and a fleet in the Baltic, is not pleased with this development.

The decision of these two countries to join the alliance led to the upcoming military exercises, which will start in a few days. Approximately 90,000 soldiers and over a thousand pieces of military equipment, ranging from naval units to air combat fighters, will be deployed in Finland.

The Kremlin was concerned about the significant military presence near the Russian borders. For this reason, Maria Zakharova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, has voiced her concerns. According to her, these manoeuvres "increase the risks of possible military incidents." NATO is also accused of "actively spreading insinuations about certain plans of Russia to attack the member countries of the organization."

NATO is "deliberately stirring up hysteria about the imaginary Russian threat in order to justify its aggressive aspirations" - explained RIA Novosti.

Throughout the discussion with RIA Novosti, the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the detrimental impact of Finland’s accession to NATO on the Kremlin. Zakharova repeatedly emphasizes that NATO has dismissed Finland's long-standing reputation for neutrality.

Many reports the Russian media and government officials convey are probably inaccurate. Such information may be part of an information war by the Russian Federation.