NATO forces conclude largest military exercise since World War 2

Europe, News, US June 4, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

NATO’s largest live exercise in decades, Steadfast Defender 2024, concluded following four months of extensive training involving all 32 NATO Allies.

The exercise marked a significant milestone, as it was the first large-scale NATO exercise series to implement the new regional defense plans adopted at the Vilnius Summit.

The scale of Steadfast Defender 2024 was unprecedented compared to any of its previous installments, involving over 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, over 80 aircraft executing hundreds of sorties, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles. The exercise aimed at enhancing readiness across all domains and command levels, from strategic to operational to tactical.

Designed to showcase NATO’s ability to reinforce continental Europe through the transatlantic movement of forces from North America and the UK, Steadfast Defender 2024 incorporated several NATO and nationally-led exercises. These exercises brought Allied troops together, demonstrating unity and interoperability on a massive scale.

Roadtrip to Estonia🇪🇪

Canadian soldiers on Op REASSURANCE participated in Ex SPRING STORM with NATO allies.

This exercise was part of the overarching Ex STEADFAST DEFENDER with the goal of strengthening our collective defence capabilities. pic.twitter.com/JrA78muRMY
— Canadian Army (@CanadianArmy) May 30, 2024

“Exercise Steadfast Defender demonstrated the incredible strength of the Trans-Atlantic bond between NATO Allies in Europe and those in North America,” said General Christopher G. Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). “The highly complex military activities conducted over the course of this exercise have shown that this Alliance is capable and ready to conduct our core mission of collective defense.”

Key aspects and outcomes

At its core, Steadfast Defender tested the enablement and employment of NATO and National Forces across all domains within SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility. The exercise simulated an emerging conflict scenario against a near-peer adversary, ensuring comprehensive preparedness.

The exercise was executed in two parts. The first part was a maritime-focused live exercise involving various headquarters rehearsing the strategic deployment of forces from North America to continental Europe. The second part was a multi-domain demonstration of NATO, national, and multinational military capabilities across continental Europe.

“During Steadfast Defender 2024, we coordinated, conducted, and sustained complex multi-domain operations over several months, and across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe,” said Brigadier General Gunnar Bruegner, NATO’s Assistant Chief of Staff responsible for Collective Training & Exercises.

British soldier with a military dog taking part in NATO exercise — *^{British soldier with a military dog taking part in NATO’s largest exercise in Poland. (Image Credit: British Army/via X)}*

“The most important takeaway is that complex exercises at this scale and ambition remain essential to stress-test our readiness, plans, and concepts, and for maintaining our operational coherence and unity,” Brigadier General Bruegner added.

A NATO statement following the exercise highlighted that such exercises are crucial tools for the Alliance to test and validate its concepts, procedures, systems, and tactics. The statement said that planned well in advance and varying in scope, duration, and form, NATO exercises prepare commands and forces for operations in times of peace, crisis, and conflict.

The exercises ensured that the Alliance is ready to defend its populations whenever and wherever necessary and under any conditions.

The successful conclusion of Steadfast Defender 2024 not only underscores NATO’s commitment to collective defense but also highlights the effectiveness of its strategic planning and execution capabilities. As NATO continues to adapt to evolving security challenges, exercises of this magnitude play a vital role in maintaining the readiness and unity of the Alliance.