Pravda reports the chief of the General Headquarters of Russia’s Armed Forces, General Nikolai Makarov, outlined the geography of threats that Russia may face in the foreseeable future – from the Arctic to Central Asia. The official also said that 50 percent of the Russian army, including ground troops, has been reorganized to fit the new organization and establishment structure. The reform is to be completed by December of the current year, he added.Russia’s army needs the large-scale reform because the previous organization of both the army and the navy did not allow the country to react adequately to major threats in the world. The general particularly referred to the USA and NATO, which hold absolute predominance in the general purpose forces in all strategic directions.
Nikolai Makarov said that the Georgian army had been armed to a much better extent than it was during the nation’s aggression against South Ossetia in the summer of 2008. The Baltic States and Poland demand Russia should be punished for responding to Georgia’s aggression. Russia’s relations with Ukraine are quite problematic too, the general complained.
The countries that have interests in the area of Fergana Valley (Central Asia) set forth their territorial claims to Russia. Russia’s Armed Forces need to be capable of showing adequate response to such threats of the modern-day world. Russia will have to take serious efforts in the Arctic region to defend its national interests there.
Russia will hold a number of large-scale military drills within the scope of the army reform. All brigades of the Northern Caucasus, the Black Sea Navy and the Caspian Fleet will participate in the maneuvers from June 29 to July 10. The units of the Leningrad and Siberian military districts, the Northern and the Baltic navies will participate in Ladoga military exercise from August 10 to September 28.
Russia is not going to reduce the strategic nuclear potential against the background of the missile defense plans of the United States, Nikolai Makarov said.
