DISINFO: NATO exercises on the territory of Bulgaria and Romania are openly anti-Russian
SUMMARY
Series of military exercises in May by special forces and a joint operational group of high readiness of the North Atlantic Alliance on the territory of Bulgaria and Romania are openly anti-Russian in nature.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative about NATO and its military exercises.
NATO is conducting many exercises every year. For 2021, a total of 95 NATO exercises are planned. According to information provided by Allies, they will conduct 220 national and multinational exercises.
The main point of military training is “to test procedures and tactics, develop best practices and identify areas for improvement. Exercises are designed to ensure that NATO forces are trained, able to operate together and ready to respond to any threat from any direction” (see more information about key NATO and Allied exercises 2021 here).
NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states. During the Warsaw summit in July 2016, NATO has made it clear that:
"The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia".
The Alliance announces its military exercises well in advance and they are subject to international observation. NATO strongly supports efforts to build confidence and transparency in military activities and exercises.
The goal of the exercises Noble Jump 2021 and Steadfast Defender 2021 being held in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Portugal, is to test NATO readiness and military mobility.
Read similar cases alleging that NATO breaks promises that Estonia will be a passive member of the Alliance, or that NATO’s actions are openly anti-Russian, or that NATO’s military exercises are destroying the European security system.