NATO is launching its biggest exercise since the Cold War, rehearsing a scenario in which US troops reinforce European allies in countries bordering Russia in case the conflict widens.
The Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise, involving some 90,000 troops, would last until May, alliance commander-in-chief Chris Cavoli reported on Thursday.
Over 50 ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers will participate, along with more than 80 fighter jets, helicopters and drones and at least 1,100 combat vehicles, including 133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles, NATO announced.
NATO did not mention Russia by name in its statement, but its main strategic document identifies the country as the most significant and direct threat to the security of alliance members.
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.
According to NATO, the last exercises of similar scale were Reforger, which took place during the Cold War in 1988 with 125,000 military personnel, and Trident Juncture in 2018 with 50,000 participants.
The exercise will include simulated troop deliveries to Europe as well as on-site exercises. Forces will arrive from NATO countries and Sweden, which hopes to join the alliance in the near future.
The second part of the exercise, the Steadfast Defender, will focus on the deployment of NATO’s rapid reaction force to Poland. Other key locations for the exercise will be the Baltic States, which are considered most at risk, Germany – the centre of incoming reinforcements – as well as countries on the alliance’s borders, such as Norway and Romania.
