Vladimir Putin is flexing his military muscles big time for all the world to see. Russia has scheduled the biggest war games exercise since 1981 for next month. Radio Free Europe:
[Defense Minister Sergei] Shoigu was quoted as saying on August 28 that the drills, called Vostok (East)-2018, will take place in Russia’s central and eastern military districts and will involve almost 300,000 troops, more than 1,000 aircraft, both the Pacific and Northern Fleets, and all Russian airborne units.
The maneuvers come as relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated to a post-Cold War low over issues including Russia’s seizure of Crimea, its role in wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine, and its alleged election meddling in the United States and Europe.
When asked if the cost of holding such a massive military exercise was justified, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that such war games were “essential” in the current international situation, which he said is “often aggressive and unfriendly toward our country.”
NATO will be monitoring the drills, according to spokesman Dylan White. He also emailed a statement to Reuters, “Vostok demonstrates Russia’s focus on exercising large-scale conflict. It fits into a pattern we have seen over some time: a more assertive Russia, significantly increasing its defense budget and its military presence.”
It’s noteworthy that this comes at a time when the United States has a buffoon at the helm with no concept of foreign policy, but who is nevertheless hellbent on destroying international alliances and undermining our stature on the world stage.
