(ANSA-AFP) - MOSCOW, JUN 9 - Dozens of Russian ships on
Thursday took part in military exercises in the strategic Baltic
Sea, after Sweden and Finland recently announced bids to join
NATO. Russia's defence ministry said in a statement that ships
of its Baltic fleet, will "perform training tasks for the
defence of sea lanes and fleet bases". It said that 60 ships and
40 aircraft were taking part in the manoeuvres which will also
take place on land at training grounds in the Russian enclave of
Kaliningrad. The navy drills come amid heightened tensions
between Moscow and NATO after Sweden and Finland submitted their
bids to join the US-led alliance after the start of Russia's
military campaign in Ukraine. If their membership -- currently
blocked by Turkey -- is approved, Russia would become the only
non-NATO country on the Baltic Sea. In a sign of support for
Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, US Chief of Staff General
Mark Milley was in Stockholm on Saturday aboard the USS
Kearsage, making it the largest US warship ever to dock in
Stockholm. His visit came as NATO conducts annual naval
exercises in the Baltic Sea called "Baltops 22" that are set to
continue until June 17. (ANSA-AFP).
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