NATO-Russia war games 'fuel tensions in Europe'

Military drills conducted by Russia and NATO show that "each side is training with the other side's capabilities and most likely war plans in mind," the London-based European Leadership Network (ELN) said in a report published on Wednesday.

"Russia is preparing for a conflict with NATO, and NATO is preparing for a possible confrontation with Russia," the report added.

The exercises can heighten the risk of "dangerous military encounters," according to the think tank.

"History is full of examples of leaders who think they can keep control of events, and events have a habit of taking on a momentum and dynamic of their own," said ELN director and one of the report's co-authors Ian Kearns.

NATO: enhancing 'stability'

Commenting on the ELN report, NATO denied seeking confrontation with Russia and claimed that the report "misleadingly" equates military drills conducted by the two sides.

"NATO military exercises are not, as the reports suggest, making war in Europe more likely," spokeswoman Carmen Romero said.

"They are intended precisely to have the opposite effect: to enhance security and stability in Europe in response to growing Russian aggression."

At the same time, Romero accused Moscow that its "unpredictable and surprise military maneuvers contribute to instability."

Russian observers welcome

The 28-member alliance is currently preparing for its largest exercise in more than a decade, Trident Juncture 2015, in Spain, Italy and Portugal. The exercise, which was announced last year, is set to be held in the fall.

NATO will invite observers from OSCE countries, including those from Russia, according to Romero.

Romero also stressed that the Kremlin intends to hold 4,000 exercises this year, which is more than ten times the number of military drills planned by NATO.

The ELN reports also cites the 4,000 figure, but adds that "this number seems to include all kinds of drills at all levels and is thus incomparable" to the numbers provided by NATO.

New treaty needed

It is "vitally important" for Russia and NATO to communicate more on the schedule of their military exercises, according to the ELN report.

The think tank also calls for work on a "new treaty introducing reciprocal territorial limitations on deployment of specific categories of weapons, backed by robust inspections" to start as soon as possible.

"If Russia or NATO decides at some point that they want to reduce tensions, showing restraint in terms of size or scenarios used for the exercises might be a good place to start," the experts said.

dj/rc (AP, dpa, Interfax)