MOSCOW, Apr 15 - RIA Novosti. The forces of the Baltic Fleet will monitor the actions of NATO ships during exercises beginning in the area, in case of aggressive plans, all targets will be "at gunpoint," Admiral Vladimir Valuev, commander of the Baltic Fleet (2001-2006), told RIA Novosti.
As the press service of the general Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces reported on Friday, the ships of the first permanent naval mine action group of NATO SNMG1 entered the Baltic Sea and will participate in exercises with neighboring alliance countries and partner countries. The primary task is to demonstrate the presence of allies in the Baltic Sea region and conduct joint exercises with the Estonian naval forces.
"The purpose of the NATO exercises is to show the power and cohesion of the allies. However, the Baltic Fleet has enough coastal complexes and ship personnel to counter the emergence of a threat. Exploration is conducted by all means. In the event of aggressive plans, all our goals will be "at gunpoint," Valuev said.
He recalled that in the recent past, NATO ships together with the Russian Baltic Fleet annually conducted exercises "Baltops" to practice interaction at sea and on land. Episodes of mine safety exercises were conducted. "However, now the scenario is more like a rehearsal for landing troops on the coast in order to move east. But we are ready for this," said the former commander of the Baltic Fleet.
The day before, the commander of the Estonian Navy, Yuri Saska, told reporters that next week it is planned to start exercises together with Estonian marines. It is planned, among other things, to test the installation and detection of mines.
