STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024, a precursor to greater conflict in Europe, and Krishna forbid, the world?

Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War, is certainly raising eyebrows amidst current geopolitical tensions, particularly regarding Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Its potential impact on international relations is to be planned out using scenario simulation.

Potential for escalation:

• Heightened Russian concerns: The sheer scale and proximity of Steadfast Defender 2024 to Russia's borders could be misconstrued as a show of force or preparation for potential aggression. This could further inflame tensions and lead to unpredictable reactions from the Russian government. [5]
• Miscalculation and accidents: With a large number of troops and complex military maneuvers involved, the risk of miscalculations or accidental incidents is not negligible. Such occurrences, even unintentional, could spiral into larger conflicts if not handled delicately.
• Deterioration of communication channels: The already strained diplomatic relations between NATO and Russia might experience further setbacks due to Steadfast Defender 2024. This could hinder communication and make it more difficult to manage crises or prevent misunderstandings.

"NATO said on Thursday it was launching its largest exercise since the Cold War involving some 90,000 troops, rehearsing how U.S. troops could reinforce European allies in countries bordering Russia and on the alliance's eastern flank if a conflict were to flare up with a "near-peer" adversary." [1]

NATO did not mention Russia by name in its announcement. But its top strategic document identifies Russia as the most significant and direct threat to NATO members' security. "Steadfast Defender 2024 will demonstrate NATO's ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance to reinforce the defence of Europe," NATO said. [3]

NATO's decision to launch its largest military exercise in more than 35 years could provoke "military incidents," Russia's deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko has warned. "An exercise of this scale…marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes, when the military planning process, resources and infrastructure are being prepared for confrontation with Russia," Grushko said. [4]

Spiritual Perspective:

Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), expressed views on war within the larger context of his spiritual teachings. He primarily emphasized non-violence and conflict resolution through peaceful means.

• Karma and consequences: Prabhupada believed in the law of karma, where one's actions have consequences. He viewed war as a karmic reaction to past negative actions, both individual and collective.
• Non-violence:"The whole Vedic civilization is based on ahimsa, nonviolence. Ahimsa means not only not killing, but to think nonviolently, to speak nonviolently." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 12.18, Bombay, January 29, 1973)"So in this way, by chanting Hare K???a mantra, your violence will stop. Otherwise, the tendency is already there, fighting. This is the material world. So we have to stop this fighting tendency." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 6.19, Mayapur, February 22, 1976)
• Self-defense:"So K???a never advises Arjuna to give up fighting altogether. K???a advises him to fight in proper circumstances." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.38, Los Angeles, December 6, 1968)"So fighting does not mean that simply, blindly one will take to fighting. No. Fighting means when there is need for fighting, for your protection, for the protection of your family, for the protection of your country, for the protection of your religion, then fighting is allowed." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.38, Mayapur, March 6, 1976)
• Spiritual warfare:"So this fight is with Maya, with illusion. This is K???a consciousness movement... This is the fight. Not fighting with bombs and guns. No." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 18.58, Mayapur, March 8, 1975)"The main war is within. To conquer the senses, to conquer the mind, to conquer the false identification with the body - this is the real war." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.3, Mayapur, February 9, 1976)

If the planning becomes real and war breaks out:

Well there is nothing much you can do - grow vegetables and some grains in your backyard and chant the Hare Krishna Mantra.

References:

1. https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2024/natos-largest-exercise-in-decades--steadfast-defender-2024--set-to-get-underway
2. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/natos-steadfast-defender-exercises-mark-return-cold-war-schemes-russia-says-2024-01-21/
3. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/nato-kick-off-biggest-drills-decades-with-some-90000-troops-2024-01-18/
4. https://www.newsweek.com/nato-drills-exercise-steadfast-defender-russia-warning-1862726
5. www.criticalthreats.org