Multipartner military exercises may become flashpoints

Significance

The exercise was described by NATO as a "show of force", while the Dutch foreign minister referred to it as "a warning" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Multinational military exercises have become more frequent over the past 25 years. The United States participates in dozens of exercises annually and spends billions of dollars to do so. However, there are significant questions over the utility and purpose of such multinational exercises, which serve both a practical function for the militaries involved, as well as a diplomatic signaling effect.

Impacts

• Like BALTOPS, regular exercises will assume greater salience when their regional focus sees new external threats.
• This could prompt policy changes from adversaries, as they attempt to respond to the exercises.
• As a result, exercises designed to deter may risk escalating tensions.