The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s largest exercise since the Cold War is underway, with more than 90,000 troops participating. These defensive exercises are based on fictitious scenarios referencing Article 5, or the principle that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of NATO.
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The Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise has been on the books for years, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted NATO to adjust its training accordingly.
Most of the exercises will focus on places like Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Romania and Norway. Though Sweden is not a part of NATO, it will host some exercises, as well. Altogether, these countries make up the entirety of NATO’s eastern flank facing Russia.
“The Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America,” said Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
That means NATO is going to practice moving troops and equipment quickly to NATO’s eastern flank with Russia while the people already there practice holding down the fort.
The U.K.’s HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier was supposed to lead the naval exercises, but a propellor problem sidelined the ship.
HMS Prince of Wales is now leading the drills, which involve more than 50 naval vessels including destroyers, frigates and other aircraft carriers featuring jet fighters, helicopters and drones.
On land, NATO will make use of more than 1,000 combat vehicles, including around 150 tanks, 500 infantry fighting vehicles and 400 armored personnel carriers.
The drills are expected to wrap up at the end of May.