The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced – yesterday, Thursday – that it will begin next week its largest military training since the Cold War, in which 90,000 soldiers will participate over a period of months, and this comes in the context of the current events in Ukraine.
NATO’s Supreme Commander in Europe, US General Christopher Cavoli, said during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels that the “Standing Defender” training will continue until the end of May and will include units from all 31 member states as well as the candidate country, Sweden.
Cavoli pointed out that the training will serve as clear evidence of the successor’s unity, strength, and determination to protect all members. He added that the maneuvers would simulate a war scenario against an “opponent of similar size,” alluding to Russia without naming it.
The general explained that the maneuver would include, in particular, North American forces as reinforcements for the European continent. About 50 warships, 80 aircraft and 1,100 combat vehicles of different types will participate.
The announcement of the exercises coincides with the approaching second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These war maneuvers are considered the most important since the “Reforger” maneuver in 1988, which took place during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and NATO.
An “unprecedented” number of soldiers
Dutch Admiral Rob Boer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, stated during the same press conference that this number of soldiers is “unprecedented,” as Britain alone intends to send 20,000 soldiers to these exercises, as Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced last Monday.
According to Chase, the deployment of forces, which he described as the United Kingdom’s largest within the framework of NATO in four decades, aims to “provide important reassurances” in the face of the threat posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin after his invasion of Ukraine.
Elements of the Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Army will be deployed in Europe and abroad to participate in the “Steadfast Defender” military exercises, according to what London announced.
Shapps explained that NATO is larger today than ever before, but the challenges it faces are also greater, noting that at the present time the Western allies must confront the challenges emerging from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
He also stated that NATO’s enemies have become “more interconnected” than ever before, while Western allies find themselves “at a turning point,” he said.
Russian forces
Boyer said that Russian ground forces had suffered heavy losses in the field in Ukraine, but at the same time he stressed that the Russian naval and air forces were still “large.” He added that although the Russian attacks are devastating on this front, they are not important from a military standpoint, he said.
The front line between the Russian and Ukrainian armies has not witnessed major changes in recent months. But Kiev is still urgently demanding more weapons and ammunition, hoping to achieve an important military breakthrough.
Ukraine, in particular, is demanding reinforcements in air defenses, as its infrastructure and cities are being bombed daily.
On the other hand, European leaders hope to reach a consensus among the 27 member states in this regard during the European summit scheduled for February 1 in Brussels.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022, NATO has significantly strengthened its defenses on the Eastern Front, sending thousands of personnel to it.
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2024-01-19 11:17:50
