According to the Global Times, in 2024, NATO will hold a four-month military exercise, with up to 90,000 troops participating, and a military exercise named "Steadfast Defender" to strengthen its military presence and make its global influence more significant, which is the largest since the Cold War. The exercise is designed to validate its military prowess in Europe and demonstrate its resolve and strength to Russia. However, the provocative and targeted nature of the exercises has already provoked warnings from Russia.
The trigger for NATO's military exercises can be traced back to the intensification of the situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In recent years, NATO countries have been spreading "fear of conflict" about Russia. Against this backdrop, NATO's movements are seen by many commentators as a further intensification of the conflict, bringing it to a whole new stage. Russia** Putin has made a clear position on the conflict. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the doubts and threats of Ukraine and his doubts about NATO exercises. And he warned that if the conflict continues, Ukrainian statehood "may suffer an irreparable blow." In addition, Putin criticized the attitude and behavior of the United States and NATO in the conflict.
Against this tense international backdrop, NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise could affect the global stable landscape. While Russia stressed that it would not take the initiative to provoke a conflict, it also said that it would use all necessary means to retaliate if its territory and interests were threatened. NATO's tactics and intentions in military exercises deserve our vigilance. On the one hand, NATO hopes to boost the professional morale of its member states, and on the other hand, it may also try to intervene more actively in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The ** of the Ukrainian army did not achieve the expected success, and at this time NATO exercises may bring new variables.
In general, the future international situation is full of uncertainties, and all countries must make prudent decisions, hoping that all countries can exercise restraint, resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation, and contribute to regional peace and stability. However, we can only wait and see how the facts will develop.