NATO ready for the biggest exercise in Europe since the Cold War

2023-09-12 22:24:14Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
NATO ready for the biggest exercise in Europe since the Cold War
View from a NATO exercise

NATO is preparing its biggest exercise since the Cold War to be held next year, gathering more than 40,000 troops to practice how the Alliance would repel an eventual aggression by Russia against one of its member states.

The exercise, codenamed "Unwavering Defender," comes as part of NATO's rapid efforts to transform from a crisis response unit to a combat alliance, also spurred by the invasion of Ukraine.

The exercise will start in the autumn of next year and is expected to hold up to 700 air missions, as well as include 50 warships and about 41 thousand ground troops, NATO officials have stated, quoted by the "Financial Times".

It is designed to shape maneuvers against the enemy, based on the model of the Russian-led coalition, called "OCCASUS".

The exercise is also a first in terms of technical capacity testing, with the use of real geographical data to create the most realistic scenarios for the troops.

Sweden, whose application to NATO still needs to be ratified by Turkey and Hungary, will also take part, bringing the number of participating countries to 32.

The process will take place in Germany, Poland and the Baltic countries in February and March and will shape a new training strategy that will see Alliance troops engage in two massive exercises a year rather than just one.


Video