Russia announced on Monday that it had begun naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, a day after NATO member countries began their annual military exercises in the same area.

The US Navy says 6,000 troops, 50 ships and more than 45 aircraft are participating in NATO high schools. In addition, Finland participates for the first time as a member of the Alliance.

For its part, the Russian military has indicated that up to 40 ships, 25 aircraft and about 3,000 troops will take part in the exercises in the Baltic, which will last until June 15.

Meanwhile, the Russian Pacific Fleet on Monday began military exercises in the Sea of ​​Japan and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, which will end on June 20.

“More than 60 warships and support vessels, about 35 Navy aircraft, marines and more than 11,000 military personnel take part in the exercises of the Pacific Fleet,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on the Telegram platform.

Nuclear composure

The Kremlin also said on Monday that the statement by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who called for bilateral arms control talks, was “positive” and that Russia remains open to dialogue.

Mr. Sullivan said Friday that the United States will continue to comply with the nuclear arms limits set out in the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms reduction agreement between the two Cold War rivals, until it expires in 2026, if Russia will do. same.

President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the treaty in February.

“This is an important and positive statement from Mr. Sullivan. Of course, we are waiting for it to be confirmed de facto by steps through diplomatic channels, and then it will be possible to consider the proposed dialogue formats,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The New START treaty, signed by then US President Barack Obama and his then EU counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, places limits on the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy.

It went into effect in 2011 and was renewed for another five years in 2021 after Joe Biden took office as President of the United States.

As part of the deal, Moscow and Washington pledge to deploy no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and no more than 700 long-range missiles and bombers.

The agreement allows both US and Russian inspectors to confirm that the other side is abiding by the treaty.

Source: RES-IPE