RUSSIAN SNAP EXERCISES IN THE HIGH NORTH
RUSSIAN SNAP EXERCISES IN THE HIGH NORTH

Author(s): Author Not Specified
Subject(s): Governance, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Geopolitics
Published by: NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence
Keywords: Russian Federation; Western Military District; Northern Fleet; military exercise; OSCE;
Summary/Abstract: On 16 March 2015 the Russian Federation began a combat readiness test (a ‘snap exercise’) of its Northern Fleet and force elements situated in its Western Military District. The scale of the exercise was much larger than originally announced, and coincided with the Norwegian exercise Joint Viking in Finnmark (the northernmost part of Norway), as well as with the US exercise Dragoon Ride. Since both exercises were announced well ahead of time, it is reasonable to assume that the Russian exercise was intended as a defensive move and/or response to them. There remains considerable debate as to whether the readiness exercise violated the Vienna Document, a confidence and security-building measure agreed upon with the OSCE. Norway stated at the time that it was monitoring the situation, and did not submit a complaint to the OSCE. However, the consistent use of such snap exercises to circumvent requirements for notification runs counter to the spirit of the agreement and undermines its provisions.

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