NATO seeks boundaries with largest ever air force exercise

With the start of the biggest air exercise in NATO history, involving as many as 10,000 military personnel and 250 aircraft, deep concerns are rising about the consequences of this exercise. Its provocative nature and deliberate pushing of boundaries puts the lives of tens of millions of Europeans at risk. A small human error could have catastrophic consequences, with Rotterdam a potential target that could be in ruins for the second time within a century, this time possibly for good. We must realize that Putin is not someone who sticks to words, and it is imperative that we do not take unnecessary risks that could lead to an escalation of tensions.

Let's be clear, we at DDS are not Russia-friends, NATO-haters or conspiracy-thinkers. We recognize the importance of NATO exercises, but we are deeply concerned about the choice to designate the Russians as an imaginary enemy and have their borders in plain sight, so to speak. It is time to reflect on the risks we are taking and to take responsibility for the safety of our people.

It is incomprehensible why it was not chosen to conduct these exercises in areas with less risk of disastrous mistakes, such as North America. There is more than enough space there and the potential impact on the safety of millions of people is significantly smaller. We must ask ourselves whether it is worth putting the lives of European citizens at risk by operating so close to Russia's borders.

Instead of creating an atmosphere of confrontation, we should seek dialogue, cooperation and de-escalation. The world needs peaceful relations and mutual understanding. Let's try to build trust instead of undermining it with provocative military actions.

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It is critical that our governments and policymakers take responsibility for ensuring the safety of their citizens. We call on them to step back, honestly assess the risks and ensure that our security is not needlessly compromised.