Big-scale military exercises are some of the best ways to deter enemies. When it comes to the bilateral relations between Russia and the USA, it has been true ever since the USSR was disintegrated. When one of the countries tests a new weapon during a major military exercise, the other tries to catch up with it by developing a similar (or even better) weapon. It is a non-stop arms race. Even despite the fact that the cold war between the USA and the ex-USSR was over a long time ago, the relations between Russia and the USA hasn’t change in essence.
In February, Russia conducted a nuclear military exercise. What was the Pentagon’s reaction? What conclusions did American officials and military experts make? Let’s try to answer these questions.
Mass Media: Russia’s Nuclear Exercise Keeps US Generals Sleepless
On February 17th – 21st 2013, Russia’s military forces conducted a big-scale nuclear exercise.
According to The Washington Times, the Pentagon and European military forces call it the biggest military exercise in 20 years. The exercise was aimed at checking the fighting capacity of the Russian nuclear military forces. The focus was on moving the arsenal of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons closer to Europe.
At the same time, Russian strategic bombers are said to make several flights to Alaska and California right in advance of the exercise.
At the same time, The Washington Times underlines that the Pentagon spokesperson deliberately belittled the importance of the Russian military exercise. He says there is no need to be concerned as the Russians (as well as the USA) have planned exercises and tests.
However, The Washington Times questions the sincerity of his words, thereby claiming that the Pentagon is actually concerned about the recent military exercise in Russia.
Russian-American Problems:
The recent nuclear exercise in Russia was a major concern to the USA, especially as the question about simultaneous nuclear-arms reduction was one of the key issues discussed in Washington in early February. At that time, some senators said that it would be impossible to have talks with Russia without concessions. Therefore, they considered unilateral arms reduction or radical changes to the anti-missile system in Europe.
The latest exercise in Russia shows that such concessions seem more and more inevitable. Yet, they can be much bigger than expected. Out experts (working for Market Leader) say that the situation is aggravated by Obama’s controversial policies. On the one hand, he is determined to cut military expenses. On the other hand, he confirmed his intension to expand the US nuclear shield on South Korea, which is threatened by North Korea. The nuclear shield in Japan and South Korea is mainly sponsored by the USA. Therefore, the saving looks ambiguous.
American Hypocrisy
According to Eugene Olkhovsky, Masterforex-V Academy’s leading expert from Canada, says that it is definitely worth trying to reduce the USA and Russia’s nuclear arsenals. Another thing is that apart from setting goals, it is necessary to take actual steps towards reaching them. Has the USA made any concessions so far (those that US senators were concerned about)?
According to Steven Cohen, who wrote the article called America's New Cold War With Russia, the USA is trying to exert pressure on Russia, simultaneously deceiving it. Therefore, he claims, Russia has no reasons to cooperate with the USA, not to mention concessions. He calls the Magnitsky Act an irresponsible step.
He also enumerates the expectations of both Russia and the USA connected with the so-called “reload”:
The USA expected:
· Cooperation in terms of supplying US troops in Afghanistan.
· Toughening sanctions against Iran.
· Russia’s abstention from voting in the UN Security Council on the introduction of a no-flight zone over Libya.
Russia expected:
· The USA’s official abstention form expanding the NATO.
· A compromise concerning the anti-missile system in Europe.
· Abstention from direct interference with Russia’s internal affairs.
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As a result, he says, the USA got everything it had expected while Russia got nothing.
At the same time, the experts of The Washington Times hint that the USA is not afraid of Russia’s aggression. Its concerns are connected with the chaos and weakness of the Russian economy. They say Russia’s nuclear arsenal is vulnerable for external attacks. Therefore, they claim that the USA id afraid that Russia’s nuclear arms may fall into terrorist and extremist hands. If this is the case, this will be a major threat to the USA’s national security.
Moreover, they say Russia’s economic and financial potential is not enough to keep its nuclear arsenal up-to-date, safe and secure.
Anyway, we may conclude that Western media and the Pentagon cannot see an easy and simple way out of the situation caused by the USA’s inefficient and controversial external policies towards Russia.
The Washington Times hints that Russia’s position is more beneficial at this point, which gives it an opportunity to behave tougher in possible bilateral talks with the USA.
