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NATO near Kaliningrad
NATO carried out a surprise military maneuver near Russia’s Kaliningrad region, an exclave between Poland and Lithuania, triggering alarm in Russia.
“About 25 aircraft were mobilized”
Folha de S.Paulo said about 25 aircraft were mobilized, including US and Norwegian fighter jets and surveillance and aerial refueling aircraft from several NATO countries.
The Vietnamese outlet Vietnam.vn, citing TVP World, said the exercise involved American and Norwegian fighter aircraft, NATO E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, refueling aircraft from the air, and the American EA-37B electronic warfare aircraft.
Vietnam.vn also said sources estimated the number of participating aircraft to be between 25 and 50, while the Polish Operational Command announced the operation was coordinated by NATO and has nothing to do with the activities of the Russian Air Forces.
Lavrov and Poland’s response
Sputnik, as quoted by قناة العالم, reported that Sergei Lavrov told Corriere della Sera that the reason for deploying the Iskander M missile systems in the Kaliningrad region is NATO's actions.
Lavrov said NATO is strengthening its eastern flank to exert political and military pressure on Russia, and that NATO conducts provocative military maneuvers near Russia's borders.
Separately, دار الهلال reported that Poland closed its shared border with Belarus today, Friday, due to a Russian-Belarusian military drill known as Zapad 2025.
The same source said Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski linked the closure to increased provocation and attempts to illegally cross, and said the border would remain closed indefinitely and would not be reopened until the security situation allows.
Suwalki Gap and escalation
دار الهلال said one of the main objectives of Zapad 2025 is the Suwalki Gap, described as a narrow 70-kilometer stretch of border between Belarus and the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
“a narrow 70-kilometer stretch”
The source added that tens of thousands of Russian and Belarusian soldiers are participating in the drills near Poland’s and Lithuania’s borders, including sensitive locations such as the Belarusian village of Gozha and the Dubrovolsk region in Kaliningrad.
Folha de S.Paulo said the lack of notice for NATO’s maneuver caused concern in Moscow, and it cited a person close to the Defense Ministry saying the perception is that NATO was testing electronic interception capabilities of Russia based in Kaliningrad.
Folha de S.Paulo also said the exclave hosts long-range air defense systems S-400 and Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and that the Iskander can reach cities near Berlin with nuclear warheads.