Faced with threats from Russia and the risk of defeat from Ukraine, NATO wants to show its power and prepare its troops for a major conflict. On Thursday, the Atlantic Alliance announced the launch next week of “Steadfast Defender 2024”, a military exercise of rare magnitude with the participation of 31 countries “plus Sweden”, NATO says. It will be held over several months from the Atlantic to NATO’s eastern flank.
These large maneuvers are the most important ever organized “in decades”, announced the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe (Saceur), American General Christopher Cavoli, during a press conference in Brussels, where NATO is headquartered.
The last exercise of this dimension, “Reforging”, dates back to 1988 in the middle of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the Atlantic Alliance.
Prove yourself to Russia… without naming it
Today is about preparing for all possible outcomes of the war in Ukraine. At a meeting in Brussels, NATO officials say that “Ukraine will have NATO’s support for as long as it is necessary, because there is no doubt: the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the world.
As the second anniversary of the start of the invasion of Ukraine approaches, the scenario is based on a conflict against an “adversary of comparable size” to NATO forces. There’s no mention of Russia, but it’s definitely about Russia.
Record numbers
The figures give an idea of the magnitude of this exercise. This armada will bring together 90,000 Alliance troops, 50 warships, 80 aircraft and 1,100 ground combat vehicles. It will also include the reinforcement on the European continent of troops “from North America,” explained General Cavoli.
The United Kingdom alone will deploy 20,000 soldiers as part of these maneuvers, its Defense Minister, Grant Shapps, announced on Monday. Units from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army will be sent across Europe and beyond for this exercise called “Steadfast Defender,” London explained.
Geopolitical tectonic plates
Since the launch of the large-scale Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 22, 2022, the Atlantic Alliance has considerably strengthened its defenses on the Eastern Front, sending thousands of men there. On the ground in Ukraine, Russian ground forces suffered very serious damage, Rob Bauer said, stressing, however, that the Russian navy and air force remained “considerable” forces.
Last year, the world may have been too optimistic and therefore it is “important that in 2024 we are not too pessimistic,” this senior Alliance official warned. He recalls that in 2023 more than 300 Russian military aircraft were intercepted by NATO aircraft.
“The geopolitical tectonic plates are shifting and we find ourselves in a world that has never been more dangerous in decades,” says Rob Bauer.
According to this official, NATO is entering a new era of collective defense to protect “the physical security of the billion citizens of the 31 member countries, soon to be 32. We defend freedom and democracy.”
Source: BFM TV
