Russia Didn't Ask To Observe NATO Steadfast Defender 2021 Drills - Senior Officer

Russia did not ask to be an observer at NATO's Steadfast Defender 2021 drills, but the alliance's exercises are always transparent, Vice Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Lt. Gen. Brice Houdet said Thursday

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2021) Russia did not ask to be an observer at NATO's Steadfast Defender 2021 drills, but the alliance's exercises are always transparent, Vice Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) Lt. Gen. Brice Houdet said Thursday.

According to Houdet, all numbers related to the drills are freely available.

Meanwhile, NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu told a press conference that the alliance's drills were never targeted against any third countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has recently said that Moscow was carefully monitoring the deployment of forces in Europe as part of the Steadfast Defender 2021 drills.