World War 3 fears: 50,000 NATO troops in Norway for HUGE show of force against Russia

US Navy Admiral James Foggo, who leads NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command, Trident Junture 18, which runs until November 7, aims to demonstrate NATO is “capable of defending against any adversary. Not a particular country, anyone.”

British Major Stuart Lavery told AFPTV it “demonstrates to our NATO allies that we’re prepared to move across Europe when needed and to show that we have the capability to do so”.

The exercises, which begin on Thursday, will see NATO’s 29 members participate, as well as Sweden and Finland.

The tens of thousands of troops will be backed by 10,000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 60 ships, including a US aircraft carrier.

The main exercise area is 600 miles from Norway’s 123-mile border with Russia in the Arctic, while air operations could take place more than 300 miles from the border.

Two Russian and two Belarus military observers have been invited to watch the manoeuvres.

Despite the latest huge exercises taking place hundreds of miles from the border, Russia has still been quick to vent their fury at them, with Moscow warning it will “take the necessary retaliatory action to ensure its security”.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “The main NATO countries are increasing their military presence in the region, near Russia’s borders.

“Such irresponsible actions are bound to lead to a destabilisation of the political situation in the North, to heighten tensions.”

Norwegian Lieutenant General Rune Jakobsen attempted played down any threat to Russia by these military exercises.

He said: “There should not be any reason for the Russians to get scared or see this as anything other than a defensive exercise.”

Norwegian Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told AFP that Russia doesn’t represent a direct threat to the Scandinavian country.

But he warned: “In a security situation as complicated as we have today, an incident elsewhere could very well heighten tensions in the North and we want to prepare the Alliance in order to avoid any unfortunate incidents.”

The US and Britain have been increasing their troop presence in Norway to acclimatise them for potential battle in the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have threatened to boil over again in recent days after Donald Trump said he was pulling out of the Cold War-era nuclear treaty.

The US President accused Russia of violating the agreement, while Moscow warned abandoning it could lead to global security being crippled.

Since taking office in 2012, Vladimir Putin has considerably beefed up the Russian army on the Arctic, building or refurbishing military bases, while new radar and anti-aircraft missile systems have been introduced.

The Northern Fleet – the fleet of the Russian Navy in the Arctic Ocean – will also be boosted with five new warships, five support vessels and 15 aircraft over the coming weeks in what is seen as its own show of strength against potential enemies.

Speaking to AFP, Francois Heibsbourg of France’s Foundation for Strategic Research warned: “Russia’s military strength has pretty much returned to what it was during the Cold War.

“In a way, NATO is also in the process of returning to what it was.”