NATO announces the largest military exercise in 35 years
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) launched this Wednesday the organization's largest military maneuver in decades called “Steadfast Defender 24”.
The first act of the maneuver is the departure of a military ship from the US state of Virginia. The exercises last until May. Around 90,000 soldiers from the defense alliance will take part in the event.
The exercise, intended to simulate the 31member alliance's response to an attack by a rival such as Russia, will include parallel exercises and stretch from North America to NATO's eastern flank near the Russian border.
The following is used
- About 50 warships,
- 80 aircraft and
- More than 1,100 combat vehicles.
American General Christopher Cavoli, head of NATO's European Command, said the alliance's 31 countries will take part, as will Sweden, which wants to join the organization.
“It will be a clear demonstration of our unity, our strength and our determination to protect each other,” the soldier said.
1 of 1 General Christopher Cavoli, a NATO official, speaks to the press this Thursday (18) at the organization's headquarters in Brussels; Photo: AP Photo/Virgínia Mayo General Christopher Cavoli, a NATO official, speaks to the press this Thursday (18) at the organization's headquarters in Brussels; — Photo: AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
NATO's last major exercise was the Reforger exercise in 1988, when the Soviet Union and the Cold War still existed.