NATO to hold largest exercise since Cold War with 90,000 troops
Europe, News, US January 20, 2024 1 Comment on NATO to hold largest exercise since Cold War with 90,000 troopsNATO announced plans to hold the largest military exercise since the Cold War with the participation of about 90,000 troops from all 31 Allied countries. The Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 will begin next week and continue until May 2024.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher Cavoli said during a press conference after the NATO defense chiefs meeting in Brussels, “Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 will be the largest NATO exercise in decades, with participation from approximately 90,000 forces from all 31 Allies and our good partner Sweden.”
Cavoli highlighted that “Steadfast Defender 2024 will be a clear demonstration of our unity, strength, and determination to protect each other, our values, and the rules-based international order.”
The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe further added that “The Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area via trans-Atlantic movement of forces from North America. This reinforcement will occur during a simulated emerging conflict scenario against a near-peer adversary.”
According to the NATO statement, over 50 warships including aircraft carriers and destroyers, more than 80 fighter jets, drones, and helicopters, and about 1,100 combat vehicles including 533 infantry fighting vehicles and 133 tanks will participate in this year’s exercise.
Steadfast Defender is a NATO-led exercise aimed at ensuring the preparedness of allied forces, fostering cohesive operational capabilities, and ensuring a swift response to potential threats from any direction. The exercise demonstrates the collaborative efforts between North America and Europe, highlighting the importance of working together to safeguard Allied nations in the face of a complex security environment.
General Christopher Cavoli also provided an update on the Allied Reaction Force and described it as a critical component of the Alliance’s new force model which supports new defense plans. “The ARF is capable of carrying out a full spectrum of missions and serves as a rapid deployable strategic reserve,” he said.
NATO Defense Chiefs meeting
NATO Alliance’s Military Committee gathered in Brussels for the Chiefs of Defense format meeting on January 17 to discuss ways to strengthen the Alliance’s defense and deterrence capabilities and implementation of the new defense plans.
NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Bauer discussed new defense plans with military officials and emphasized that the Allies are actively working to maximize the executability of the new military plans. However, he stressed that the Allies need to take additional steps to achieve its objectives and collective defense of the Alliance.
Admiral Rob Bauer said during a press conference held after the meeting, “Allies are now actively working to maximize the executability of these new defense plans. That means – should it come to it – we want to be able to execute these plans with a minimum amount of risk. This is about preparedness.”
He further added that “NATO is stronger and readier than it has ever been. Together, we have made immense strides in our collective defense. But we want and need to do more, in order to deter and defend any potential threat.”
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[…] plans. Stoltenberg explained that “right now, we are testing these plans through exercise Steadfast Defender, the largest NATO exercise in decades,” which involves 90,000 forces from all 31 NATO Allies […]