NATO Gets Ready For The Largest Military Drills in Decades

Next week, NATO will begin its largest-scale military exercises in decades. Approximately 90,000 soldiers will participate in months-long drills meant to demonstrate the alliance’s ability to defend its whole territory up to its border with Russia, according to senior leaders.

The drills take place as Russia’s conflict with Ukraine drags on.

NATO is not directly involved in the conflict; its role is limited to providing non-lethal support to Kyiv. However, several member nations have sent weapons and ammunition, either individually or in groups, as well as military training.

NATO started bolstering security on its eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine in the months before Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order for troops to enter Ukraine in February 2022.

Since the end of the Cold War, this partnership has never been stronger. The goal of the war exercises is to dissuade Russia from attacking one of the member nations.

“They will demonstrate that NATO can carry out and maintain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any condition,” the 31-nation alliance stated of the drills, known as Steadfast Defender 24.

Up to the end of May, troops will be traveling throughout Europe in what NATO refers to as “a simulated emerging conflict scenario with a near-peer adversary.”

According to NATO’s supreme allied commander; US General Christopher Cavoli, who spoke to reporters, ”The alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via transatlantic movement of forces from North America.”

It will show “our unity, our strength, and our determination to protect each other,” according to General Cavoli.

“A record number of troops that we can bring to bear and have an exercise within that size, across the alliance, across the ocean from the US to Europe,” stated Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the NATO Military Committee.

Admiral Bauer called it “a big change” from the troop numbers that were practicing a year prior.

Participating will be Sweden, which is anticipated to join NATO this year.

According to UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, his government will send 20,000 soldiers between February and June, many of whom will be stationed in eastern Europe and supported by cutting-edge fighter jets, observation aircraft, warships, and submarines.