The latest mock exercise carried out by the United States that simulated a nuclear strike against Russia has stirred Russian lawmakers who now accuse Washington of “trying to normalize the concept of nuclear war,” Newsweek reported.
The Pentagon conducted a “mini-exercise” last week in which “Russia decides to use a low-yield limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory,” to which U.S. forces responded with a “limited” nuclear response.
Russian lawmakers were angered with the drill, and accused the Pentagon of reckless nuclear fear-mongering, The Moscow Times reported.
Among them was Alexander Sherin, the second most senior member of the lower house State Duma’s defense committee. He told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that the American goal was to “get the population used to such an inconceivable conflict resolution scenario as a Russian-NATO nuclear strike.”
“The second goal is to intimidate Europe’s population and justify the presence of American bases on their territory as guarantors of security,” Sherin added.
The deputy of the State Duman, Alexey Chepa, also suggested the exercise was primarily aimed at America’s European allies. He described the drill as “a good PR campaign” for the U.S., and part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to pressure its allies into higher military spending, RIA Novosti noted.
Sergei Tsekov, a member of the upper house Federal Council’s foreign affairs committee, said the American military officials were behaving like “sick people”. Federal Council defense committee member Olga Kovitdi branded the U.S. a master of “bluffing and imitations,” RBC reported.
Be the first to comment