NATO has announced plans to carry out military exercises over Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia later this month.

The exercises will represent “the most recent demonstration of NATO solidarity and commitment to its member countries in the Baltic region”, says Thomas Dillschneider, spokesman for the Allied Air Headquarters in Ramstein, Germany.

The planned military exercises follow France’s plan to sell warships to Russia, which has triggered fears amongst the former Soviet republics of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Russia has clearly stated its concerns over increased eastward expansion of the NATO alliance and recently include NATO as the “main external threats of war” in its new military doctrine, published on Feb. 5.

NATO stressed that the coming military exercise was not linked to the “French sale of warships” issue.

“There is no relationship between our training event and the potential Mistral deal,” Dillschneider said.

Image credits.

Related news articles:

1. Russia threatens to react to “alarming” NATO expansion
2. Vostok-2010 – Unprecedented War Games in Full Swing in Russia’s Far East
3. Is Russia declaring war on NATO?
4. EU NATO allies to call for removal of US nuclear weapons
5. 7 Dead in Israeli Military Helicopter Crash in Romania