text: British officers were forced to accept the four-day inspection from the experts from Moscow despite heightened tensions with Vladimir Putin . Russian military inspectors have arrived at a huge Nato war games exercise off the coast of Scotland, it emerged yesterday. British officers were forced to accept the four-day inspection from the experts from Moscow under a European arms control treaty despite heightened tensions with Vladimir Putin. They are attending Exercise Joint Warrior, designed to send a signal to the President in the face of continuing aggression. Britain and 11 other Nato countries are set to contribute to the naval exercise, which was hailed by the Government as one of the largest land, air, and sea training exercises run in Europe. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the exercise, involving 58 warships and submarines, 50 aircraft and 3,000 land forces would show the world how ‘powerful’ Nato was. But last night it emerged that despite tensions with Mr Putin, Britain was still obliged to allow military inspectors into the country. The visit began on Monday at Lossiemouth and involves experts from the Russian National Nuclear Threat Reduction Centre, international officials said. Russian state media said the team from the centre, part of the counry’s defence ministry, would conduct ‘a series of checks’ at the exercise. Britain has not inspected Russian since 2010, however Russia is still obliged to accept inspections twice a year from other countries. Under the terms of the Vienna Document 2011 agreement, nations are permitted to conduct a limited number of inspections on the territories of other signatory states. The UK regularly conducts similar inspections on other nations’ territories. Sergey Ryzhkov, head of the centre, said: ‘During the event, the inspectors will visit ranges and plan to hold command briefings on the conducted military activities.’ It is the first time Russian inspectors have attended Nato manoeuvres since relations between Moscow and the alliance plummeted after the annexation of Crimea. Nato has withdrawn all cooperation from Russia in protest at its aggression in Ukraine and stepped up exercises to try to reassure eastern allies who feel threatened by the Kremlin. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon (pictured) said the exercise, involving 58 warships and submarines, 50 aircraft and 3,000 land forces would show the world how ‘powerful’ Nato was . David Cameron reiterated Mr Fallon’s comments last month that the exercise would ‘send a clear message to those who threaten us’ that the UK and alliance could protect themselves. Members are still bound by several arms control and cooperation treaties though. The Russian team will be escorted at all times and will only be given unclassified information, the MoD in London said. Defence sources said it was ‘routine’ and Russian officers had last made similar official visits last year. An MOD spokesman said: ‘This routine inspection, which forms part of our obligations under the Vienna Document 2011, will have no impact on Joint Warrior. The inspection party will not have access to any sensitive information and will be accompanied throughout.'
target: British officers forced to accept four-day inspection from Moscow experts .
  UK and 11 other Nato countries set to contribute to the naval exercise .
  Will involve 58 warships and submarines, 50 aircraft and 3,000 land forces .