Largest NATO exercises since Cold War underway

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

NATO’S LARGEST EXERCISE IN DECADES IS UNDERWAY, BUT WITHOUT THE BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD IT.

THE STEADFAST DEFENSIVE EXERCISES ARE BASED ON FICTITIOUS ARTICLE 5 SCENARIOS TRIGGERED BY FICTITIOUS ATTACKS AGAINST AN ALLIANCE MEMBER. WHILE THIS YEAR’S EXERCISE MAY HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS, RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE PROMPTED NATO TO ADJUST ITS TRAINING ACCORDINGLY.

THE BUIL OF THIS YEAR’S EXERCISES FOCUS ON PLACES LIKE FINLAND, ESTONIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA AND NORWAY. EVEN THOUGH SWEDEN ISN’T PART OF NATO YET, THE COUNTRY WILL ALSO HOST SOME EXERCISES. SO BASICALLY, THE ENTIRETY OF NATO’S EASTERN FLANK FACING RUSSIA.

WITH MORE THAN 90,000 TROOPS ARE TAKING PART, ARMY GENERAL CHRISTOPHER CAVOLI, NATO’S SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDED IN EUROPE SAID, “THE ALLIANCE WILL DEMONSTRATE ITS ABILITY TO REINFORCE THE EURO-ATLANTIC AREA VIA TRANS-ATLANTIC MOVEMENT OF FORCES FROM NORTH AMERICA.”

TRANSLATION: THEY’RE GOING TO PRACTICE MPVING TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT QUICKLY TO NATO’S EASTERN FLANK WITH RUSSIA, WHILE THE FOLKS ALREADY THERE PRACTICE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT.

THE UK’S HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH CARRIER WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD THE NAVAL EXERCISES, BUT A PROPELLOR PROBLEM SIDELINED THE SHIP. HOWEVER, THAT COULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE SOME MORE UNIQUE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. AFTER ALL, FEW BATTLE PLANS SURVIVE IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM AFTER CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY.

THE HMS PRINCE OF WALES IS NOW LEADING THE DRILLS, WHICH INLUDE MORE THAN 50 NAVAL VESSELS LIKE DESTROYERS, FRIGATES AND OF COURSE, OTHER AIRCRAFT CARRIERS THAT FEATURE SEVERAL TYPES OF JET FIGHTERS, HELICOPTERS AND DRONES.

ON LAND, STEADFAST DEFENDER WILL MAKE USE OF MORE THAN A THOUSAND COMBAT VEHICLES, INCLUDING AROUND 150 TANKS, 500 INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLES AND 400 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRRIERS.

THIS YEAR’S DRILLS ARE EXPECTED TO WRAP UP AT THE END OF MAY.