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Photo by Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP

The exercise also comes days after President Donald Trump announced that he would withdraw the United States from a landmark Russian-American treaty in place since the Soviet era that limits intermediate-range nuclear weapons. Both the Obama and the Trump administration have accused Russia of violating the INF pact, despite persistent Russian denials.

Even though U.S. allies in Europe have acknowledged Russian violations, they have urged the United States to stick to the agreement, once again revealing the divisions within NATO that have deepened since Trump became president.

Ahead of a major NATO summit this summer, U.S. allies even feared a crackup of the alliance, after Trump repeatedly voiced doubts over defending nations he considers to be in breach of their own financial commitments. Despite the verbal attacks, however, those fears have so far not materialized. Trump has even supported some NATO-led efforts to strengthen the alliance.

Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP

But U.S. allies in Europe still worry that the president is not fully committed to the alliance, which is based on the principle of common defense in case of an outside attack on one of its members. In July, Trump suggested the United States may not in all cases defend tiny NATO member state Montenegro, referring to the country as a broader example rather than commenting on a specific threat. Many smaller countries in the Baltic region right next to Russia are in a similar position as Montenegro and immediately voiced complaints over Trump’s remarks.