Naval ships from several countries anchor off shore while taking part in ceremonies marking the Canadian Navy's 100th anniversary in Victoria, British Columbia June 11, 2010. The ships are (L-R) Japan's JDS Atago, New Zealand's HMNZS Endeavour, United Sta
IN PHOTO: Naval ships from several countries anchor off shore while taking part in ceremonies marking the Canadian Navy's 100th anniversary in Victoria, British Columbia June 11, 2010. The ships are (L-R) Japan's JDS Atago, New Zealand's HMNZS Endeavour, United States USS Sampson, Canada's HMCS Winnipeg and Australia's HMAS Newcastle. Reuters/Andy Clark

The war games in the coast off UK are underway but NATO reiterates that they are not meant to be a response to Russia’s military aggression. NATO claimed the military drills involving the armed forces of 14 countries were planned long before Russia began its military build-up in the region.

The UK-led military exercises, codenamed “Joint Warrior”, bring together 13,000 personnel with 70 aircraft and 50 ships and submarines. NATO has slammed Russia’s actions in Ukraine as well as its large scale and frequent military drills. Russia’s long-range bombers have been repeatedly spotted flying close to NATO airspace.

USS Vicksburg, the U.S. Navy’s guided missile cruiser, is one of the vessels taking part in the exercises and the current flagship of the NATO’s maritime group. Commanding officer Rear Adm. Brad Williamson told CNN that Russia’s behaviour adds only to the motivation of participants to do well in the exercises. “Anytime you have a security situation that reminds us it’s not just a game we’re doing out here, that there real world implications to our ability to provide security to alliance members, I think that focuses our minds on what we’re doing,” said Williamson.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine amid mounting evidence from intelligence sources. Both NATO and Russia have accused each other of being responsible for the current tensions in the region.

The Joint Warrior exercises are usually held every six months but the latest war games are by far the biggest compared to previous drills. For two weeks, military personnel will practice amphibious landings, airborne landings around Salisbury Plain south of Britain and mock attacks by small ships. HMS Ambush, the British Royal Navy’s Astute class hunter killer submarine, and frigate HMS Somerset will lead the submarine hunting drills at sea.

Specific details of the war games are highly classified but it usually consists of two parts in which the first involves training and the second part is “free play.” Russia has sent its own military experts to inspect the military exercises under the Vienna document. NATO officials claimed the Russians had only stayed for a short period, reports Reuters.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the military exercises would “send a clear message to those who threaten us.” He added that Joint Warrior is proof the UK and NATO can defend themselves in the face of Russian aggression.

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