Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Steadfast Defender drills, branding them as "provocative" and suggesting they could result in "tragic consequences" for Europe.
Zakharova expressed her concerns, stating, "For several months, 90,000 forces from 31 NATO member countries, along with Sweden, will be actively engaged near Russian borders, spanning from Norway to Romania." This move, she emphasized, is not only "provocative" but is intentionally designed to escalate tensions, raising the likelihood of military incidents and, in her words, "ultimately lead to tragic consequences for Europe."
The "Steadfast Defender 2024" exercises, NATO's largest military drills in decades, commenced on Wednesday. Scheduled to run until May 31, the exercises will be conducted in various locations, marking a significant military presence in the region.
(With Agency Inputs)
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