U.S. leads big military drills in Eastern Europe

(Vatican Radio)  The United States has launched its the biggest ever show of air power in the Baltic countries near Russia as part of a four-week drill of non-stop exercises by forces in Europe. The U.S. claims it's part of efforts to reassure nervous allies of the NATO military alliance after Russia's military intervention in Ukraine.

Listen to this report by Stefan Bos:

 

American military vehicles have already been crossing several Eastern European countries near Russia's border in a massive show of force. The U.S. says the "Dragoon Ride" was part of wider military exercises by U.S. land, sea and air forces from Estonia in the north to Bulgaria in the south. 

In Estonia, Russia is so close that the F-16 fighter pilots can see it on the horizon as they swoop down over a training range there. 

Reporters have also seen how simulated bombs release smoke on impact. An M-61 cannon fires live ammunition, rattling the aircraft with a deafening tremor and shattering targets on the ground.

ONGOING EXERCISES

The four week drill there is a repeat of similar ongoing exercises in Eastern Europe where people still remember decades of Soviet domination. 

Washington claims the exercises are aimed at reassuring these nations, who have now become NATO allies. They have become nervous they could be next after Russia already annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and Russians began supporting pro-Russian separatists in the east. 

However experts have expressed concern over the biggest East-West confrontation since the Cold War. 

They argue that with Russia holding similar exercises, just a small mistake from a commander or pilot could spark a dangerous escalation in the stand-off between two nuclear powers, Russia and America. 

US DENIES

However U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke denies wrongdoing. "I think our activity on the territory of NATO member states has a degree of transparency that is hard to criticize," he argued.  

Amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine, the United States it will be represented only by its ambassador during a May 9 parade in Moscow marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. 

Washington has advised other countries to send lower level officials as well. 

But at least 26 world leaders say they will attend, including from Europe.