Chances of new stability in Europe fading: Scholar

In an attempt to strengthen US military presence in Eastern Europe, American and Romanian soldiers are holding joint military exercises as a step of a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wants to reassure its European allies that it will support them in the face of Russia.

The “gradual build-up” of NATO forces in Eastern Europe makes the relationship between European states and Russia worse, warned Fred Weir, a journalist and political commentator from Moscow.

“The chances of some kind of new stability taking hold in Europe are fading,” because “the Russians are feeling more and more alienated,” he told Press TV on Thursday.

His comments came after US deployed some 500 troops to Romania’s east in February to take part in different multinational drills.

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According to the analyst, NATO exercises have stepped up in the past three years and “the trend is starting to look quite bad.”

“They (the US and its European allies) are increasing their [military] exercises and integrating Eastern European armies into NATO forces,” he noted.

There is a “war of words” between Russia and NATO, he said, adding that “it’s actually loud and more significant and the movements of troops on the ground” are causing concerns about the future of the region.

Pointing to Moscow’s reaction to the increasing NATO activities in Europe, Weir said, “The Russians will respond in some way; so, the situation is generally a dismal trend.”

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