NATO Ramstein Flag Drills Near Russia Spark Concern
NATO’s Ramstein Flag 2026 drills near Russia involve fighters, drones and reconnaissance aircraft, as Glazunov urges Moscow to consider Baltic exercises.
NATO has launched its Ramstein Flag 2026 air exercises, with part of the drills taking place near Russia’s borders. The maneuvers cover the territories of Spain, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
Political analyst Oleg Glazunov believes Russia could respond to the alliance’s activity near its borders by holding its own military drills in the Baltic Sea. In his view, such training allows armed forces to rehearse actions that may be needed in real combat conditions.
Speaking on Komsomolskaya Pravda radio, Glazunov said Russia has not held exercises near the United States or in the skies over the Baltic, close to the air borders of the Scandinavian countries involved in the current maneuvers, for a long time. He argued that, despite the cost, such drills would send a clear signal to the participating states that Russia should not be underestimated.
Glazunov also noted that during the exercises NATO pilots repeatedly fly along pre-planned routes, study reference points and practice their actions until they become automatic, allowing them to use those skills quickly if necessary. According to him, the alliance is deploying not only fighter jets, but also military transport aircraft, drones and reconnaissance planes.
The analyst said this kind of activity by the bloc should be taken seriously and factored into possible response measures.