- NATO’s largest exercise since Cold War
- 90,000 personnel, extensive participation
- Simulating defence against Russian threat
General Chris Cavoli, the alliance’s highest-ranking commander, has stated that approximately 90,000 personnel are scheduled to participate in the months-long war games that NATO will begin, marking its largest exercise since the Cold War, the following week.
Cavoli stated on Thursday that the exercises would simulate the implementation of NATO’s regional strategies. These are the alliance’s first defence plans in decades and outline its response to a Russian attack.
NATO did not explicitly reference Russia in its declaration. However, its most important strategic document identifies Moscow as the most significant and direct threat to member states.
Additionally, the alliance stated that over fifty ships, from destroyers to aircraft carriers, over eighty fighter aeroplanes, helicopters, and drones, and at least 1,100 combat vehicles (133 tanks and 533 infantry fighting vehicles) will participate.
NATO stated, “Steadfast Defender 2024 will showcase the alliance’s capacity to swiftly mobilise forces from North America and other regions in order to bolster the defence of Europe.”
A “simulated emerging conflict scenario with a near-peer adversary” will be included in the war games. Cavoli told reporters in Brussels following a two-day gathering of national defence ministers.
NATO’s Steadfast Defender: Key Objectives
The NATO rapid reaction force will be sent to Poland in the second phase of Steadfast Defender.
It is anticipated that the events will proceed until the conclusion of May.
“Our unity, our strength, and our determination to protect each other” will be demonstrated through the exercises, according to Cavoli.
The Baltic republics, which are also targeted for exercises, are most susceptible to a Russian strike.
Germany, a central hub for incoming reinforcement and nations such as Norway and Romania, which are on the periphery of the alliance, will also be utilized as locations.
Participating soldiers will be deployed from NATO member states and Sweden, which aspires to join the alliance shortly.
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Allies approved regional plans at the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, ending a lengthy period during which the military bloc no longer viewed large-scale defence plans as necessary, as its attention was directed towards conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Previously, the alliance was certain that Russia no longer posed a threat.
According to NATO, the last exercises of comparable magnitude were the Reforger drills conducted in 1988 with 125,000 participants during the Cold War and the Trident Juncture drills in 2018 with 50,000 participants.
