[Global Times comprehensive report] The "Arctic Challenge - 2023" exercise, which is known as the largest air force exercise in Europe, kicked off in Northern Europe on May 29. The exercise was co hosted by Norway, Sweden and Finland, and 150 aircraft from 14 countries participated. Russian military experts said that, in view of the current military and political situation in the Arctic, the real purpose of the exercise was to exercise potential combat operations against Russia.

Today's Russian TV 29 reported that the "Arctic Challenge - 2023" exercise was the sixth such exercise jointly held by the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian air forces. Since 2013, within the framework of Nordic cooperation, this exercise has been held every two years, and this year is led by the Finnish Air Force. The Finnish Air Force announced that the largest "Arctic Challenge - 2023" exercise would be held from May 29 to June 9, with nearly 3000 military personnel and 150 military aircraft from 14 countries including Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States participating in the exercise Transporters and tankers. The exercises were mainly conducted in the northern bases of Finland, Sweden and Norway, and the exercises included tactical maneuver, command and control, etc. Norway also specially dispatched F-35 stealth fighter, which will test the cooperative operation between the fourth and fifth generation fighters during the exercise. At the same time, Finland and the United States began to hold the "Karelian Lock 23" joint ground exercise in Finland on May 26, with about 7000 troops participating. The exercise will continue until June 2.

Russia warned that "the participation of Nordic countries in military groups with obvious anti Russian tendencies will lead to Russia's military response". Nicola Korchnov, the ambassador at large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that the conflict in the Arctic region is intensifying at present. He said: "Due to climate change and new technologies, energy resources in the Arctic are becoming more and more accessible. In terms of geopolitics, the region is also becoming more and more important. Russia's most important task in the Arctic is to further strengthen Russia's sovereignty." With regard to the increasing military activities of NATO countries in the Arctic, The Russian military also held its own exercises in the northwest. On May 26, the Su-24 front line bomber of the Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation Corps practiced the course of destroying simulated enemy targets on the water and shore. In addition to simulating the attack on the targets of the enemy's fleet of ships, it also attacked the ground cluster targets of simulated enemy armored vehicles and automobile equipment columns. In addition, several warships in the Baltic Sea also practiced the course of using sea based "calibre" cruise missiles to attack hypothetical enemy ships and coastal targets.

Today Russian TV said that for the "Arctic Challenge - 2023" exercise, Igor Korotchenko, editor in chief of the Russian National Defense magazine, believed that under the current military and political situation, any military exercise of western countries would exercise potential combat operations against Russia in some way. He said: "In view of the new reality, the Arctic is of special significance as a potential battlefield for future military operations and a 'resource pool' for development in the 21st century. NATO will exercise a set of operational planning decisions and actual action plans for troops, mainly involving the implementation of strikes against Russia and the acquisition of military advantages in the Arctic. After Finland joined NATO, the situation in the region has become very tense. Considering the tense relationship between Russia and NATO, Russia and Finland may become direct military opponents, which may bring all the consequences. " Vladimir Vinokurov, a professor at the Foreign Affairs College of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: "Although they did not mention the specific opponent targeted by the exercise, the West is exercising all the scenarios of confrontation with Russia. The Arctic is also very important in military strategy. It is the shortest path for the United States and Russia to attack each other with intercontinental missiles. The deployment of so many aircraft during the exercise undoubtedly poses a threat to Russia's security. But Russia has the most developed infrastructure and the largest force cluster in the Arctic region, and Russia has the ability to confront the threats it faces in this region. " As for NATO exercises in Russia's border areas, Russian military historian Yuri Konutov said: "These exercises are NATO's demonstration of strength to Russia. We have encountered conflicts under the guise of exercises more than once, and we must take NATO exercises seriously." (Liu Yupeng)