Russia is engaged in “dangerous brinkmanship” toward NATO and Nordic nations in its military moves, with almost 40 incidents of incursions and close encounters since March, according to a European security research group.
The European Leadership Networksaid the incidents present a “highly disturbing picture” of violations of national airspace, emergency air-defense scrambles, narrowly avoided mid-air collisions, close encounters at sea and other dangerous actions on a regular basis over a wide area.
Perpetuating a volatile standoff between a nuclear-armed state and a nuclear-armed alliance and its partners “is risky at best,” the group said in the report released today. “It could prove catastrophic at worst.”
The intensity and gravity of incidents involving Russian and NATO militaries and security agencies have visibly increased since Russia’s annexation of Crimea, according to the London-based group, which includes former European defense and foreign ministers.
“Even though direct military confrontation has been avoided so far, the mix of more aggressive Russian posturing and the readiness of Western forces to show resolve increases the risk of unintended escalation and the danger of losing control over events,” the group said.
