Largest NATO military exercise since the Cold War begins

(Brussels) Some 90,000 NATO soldiers will participate for several months starting next week in the largest military exercise organized by the Atlantic Alliance since the Cold War, against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine.

“This will be a clear demonstration of our unity, our strength and our determination to protect each other,” Supreme Allied Commander Europe (Saceur), US General Christopher Cavoli, said on Thursday during a a press conference in Brussels, where NATO is headquartered.

These maneuvers, which will extend over several months from the Atlantic to NATO’s eastern flank, will take the form of a conflict scenario against an “adversary of comparable size”, according to the Alliance’s terminology, which designates thus, without naming it, Russia, whose large-scale offensive in Ukraine began almost two years ago.

They will notably include the reinforcement on the European continent of troops “from North America”, General Cavoli said.

Some 50 warships, 80 aircraft and 1,100 combat vehicles will take part in this largest “war game” since the “Reforger” exercise in 1988, in the midst of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the Atlantic Alliance.

“Record” number of soldiers

“This is a record in terms of the number of soldiers,” said Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, head of the NATO military committee, which brings together heads of state, during the same press conference. major of the armies of the 31 member countries of the organization.

The United Kingdom alone will deploy 20,000 soldiers as part of these maneuvers, its Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced on Monday.

This deployment, which he described as the “largest” in 40 years for British forces within NATO, aims to respond to the “threat” posed by President Vladimir Putin’s Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.

Units from the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Army will be sent across Europe and beyond for this exercise called “Steadfast Defender”, London explained.

Grant Shapps said NATO faced “greater than ever” challenges from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, warning that the Alliance’s adversaries were “more connected to each other” than ever.

“Not too pessimistic”

On the ground in Ukraine, Russian ground troops suffered very severe damage, said Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, noting, however, that the Russian navy and air force remained “considerable” forces.

“Intense fighting” is still taking place but, “although the Russian attacks are devastating, they are not significant from a military point of view,” he said.

Last year, the world was perhaps a little too optimistic and it is therefore “important that in 2024 we are not too pessimistic”, said this senior Alliance official.

The front line between the Russian and Ukrainian armies has barely moved in recent months and Kyiv is insistently demanding additional weapons and ammunition if it hopes to achieve a significant military breakthrough.

Ukraine in particular is asking for more anti-aircraft defense means, at a time when its infrastructure and cities are being shelled every day.

But American military aid of more than 60 billion dollars is still blocked in Congress due to the reluctance of Republican elected officials and a European financial contribution over four years of 50 billion euros meets the same fate due to a veto of Hungary. A solution could nevertheless be found at the summit of 27 on 1^er February in Brussels.

Since the start of the Russian assault in Ukraine in February 2022, the Atlantic Alliance has strengthened its defenses on the eastern flank, sending thousands of men there.