Russia and Belarus are conducting Military Exercises involving warships, aircraft, and armored units -- the largest exhibition of force since 2014. The military maneuvers are taking place in Belarus, and NATO countries are nervous because they think it can lead to an invasion. According to a report by the BBC, the Russians state that 12,700 soldiers are participating. The United States and its NATO allies believe that Russia could have up to 100,000 soldiers participating. General Ben Hodges, leader of the US Army in Europe, believes that Zapad-2017 could be a Trojan horse to attack Poland and the Baltic nations.
Many Russian officials think that the West exaggerates a lot, and called this a myth.
US officials and military are alarmed
Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, spoke with Baltic ambassadors about the issue and they told him that the number of soldiers involved in Zapad-2017 is higher than in the past. US General Phillip Breedlove stated that the name of the military exercises (Zapad means West) and the impressive military deployment is a reason to be worried. According to a report by CBS News, Breedlove stated that Moscow ordered 83 times more rail cars than they did during military exercises in 2013.
Russia supplies false information
According to a report by CBS News, Moscow stated that 10,000 soldiers took part in the previous exercise, but the US and its allies believe that the real number is closer to 70,000.
Breedlove stated that all countries have the right to conduct military exercises, but when they are exaggerated they become a threat. Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, believes that Russia could try to invade his country. The Kremlin invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014, and control large areas of eastern Ukraine today.
There are many separatists in the region that want to secede and join Russia, but the Kremlin denies its involvement.
The US is sending weapons and soldiers
America is helping its allies with Abrams tanks, howitzers, and Bradley vehicles -- these weapons arrived at the port of Gdansk. Sweden is conducting military exercises that involve almost 20,000 local soldiers, and more than 1,000 US military.
Troops from other countries decided to join these maneuvers to tell the Kremlin that there will be a powerful reaction if it decides to attack. This military drill is called Aurora 17, and it will last three weeks.
