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| German minister warns Nato against 'warmongering' | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned Nato against "warmongering", as it conducts military exercises in Eastern Europe. | |
| Mr Steinmeier said that extensive Nato manoeuvres launched this month were counterproductive to regional security and could inflame tensions with Russia. | |
| He urged the Nato military alliance to replace the exercises with more dialogue and co-operation with Russia. | He urged the Nato military alliance to replace the exercises with more dialogue and co-operation with Russia. |
| Nato launched a simulated Russian attack on Poland on 7 June. | Nato launched a simulated Russian attack on Poland on 7 June. |
| The two-week-long drill involves about 31,000 troops, including 14,000 from the US, 12,000 from Poland and 1,000 from the UK. | The two-week-long drill involves about 31,000 troops, including 14,000 from the US, 12,000 from Poland and 1,000 from the UK. |
| It will also feature dozens of fighter jets and ships, along with 3,000 vehicles. | It will also feature dozens of fighter jets and ships, along with 3,000 vehicles. |
| "What we shouldn't do now is inflame the situation further through sabre-rattling and warmongering," Mr Steinmeier said in an interview to be published in Germany's Bild am Sontag newspaper. | "What we shouldn't do now is inflame the situation further through sabre-rattling and warmongering," Mr Steinmeier said in an interview to be published in Germany's Bild am Sontag newspaper. |
| "Whoever believes that a symbolic tank parade on the alliance's eastern border will bring security, is mistaken. | "Whoever believes that a symbolic tank parade on the alliance's eastern border will bring security, is mistaken. |
| "We are well-advised to not create pretexts to renew an old confrontation," he said, adding that it would be "fatal to search only for military solutions and a policy of deterrence". | |
| The exercises are intended to test Nato's ability to respond to threats, and take place every two years. | The exercises are intended to test Nato's ability to respond to threats, and take place every two years. |
| But Russia has repeatedly said that the presence of Nato troops near its borders is a threat to its security. | |
| A Nato spokesperson said the alliance had maintained dialogue in the Nato-Russia Council, although practical co-operation had been suspended, following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. |