Is Russia Moving To A War Footing?

Military parade in Red Square. Wikipedia

Andrew Monaghan, Newsweek: How And Why Russia Is Moving To A War Footing

As NATO’s Warsaw summit looms, the rivalry between the alliance and Russia is intensifying. The summit’s agenda includes a lengthy list of points of tension, including NATO enlargement, ballistic missile defence, positioning of NATO equipment and forces in Eastern European member states and NATO’s partnerships with states such as Georgia. At the same time, NATO is conducting a series of substantial military exercises in Eastern Europe, such as Anakonda-2016, the largest such exercises since the end of the Cold War.

The Russian leadership has responded with a mix of vocal criticism threatening retaliatory measures, most notably President Putin’s statements that Romania would be targeted as a result of its hosting elements of the missile defence shield. Other officials have stated that Russia will also increase military and security exercises and other activities in response.

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WNU Editor: Is Russia preparing for war? .... not if you ask the average Russian. Going to war against NATO is so far removed from what the average Russian mindset that I do not know where I can begin. From my read, and talking to family and friends in Russia .... their focus is on other things .... the economy, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, .... and somewhere near the bottom of the list (maybe) .... NATO's buildup on the borders. So why all the focus from the West on Russia moving to a war footing .... the history between eastern Europe and Russia/Soviet Union has been (to put it bluntly) horrible, and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine has only exacerbating relations. When the Soviet Union broke up it only heightened old border/nationalist resentments and grievances .... and we are seeing this play out in Ukraine, the Baltics, Armenia-Azerbaijan, the rise of Islamic militancy in the Caucasus, and elsewhere. My prediction .... this is a situation that is going to take generations to overcome (maybe) .... and this military build-up (from both sides) will continue.