NATO has announced plans to hold a massive military exercise in 2024, involving over 40,000 troops. This exercise, named Steadfast Defender, will be the largest since the Cold War and will take place in Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States. The US-led bloc claims that it needs to do “much more” to protect itself against current and potential threats.
According to reports, the drills will include more than 50 ships and hundreds of combat air missions. The exercise is designed to simulate a clash with a fictional coalition called ‘Occasus’. It is scheduled for February 2024.
This announcement comes after a previous exercise in June, called Air Defender 23, which involved 10,000 troops from 25 nations and 250 aircraft. NATO officials hailed it as the “largest deployment of air forces in NATO’s history”.
Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of NATO’s Military Committee, criticized member states for their lack of commitment to security. He claimed that production capacities and weapons deliveries have been lagging behind, leading to soaring prices for equipment and ammunition. Bauer also criticized “liberal economies” for their inability to prioritize defense needs over short-term profits.
Bauer reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to supplying arms to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. General Eirik Kristoffersen, the Norwegian defense chief, echoed this sentiment, stating that Ukrainian forces are fighting for a “functioning rules-based world order”. Both NATO officials accused Russia of challenging this order.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concerns over NATO’s military buildup, viewing it as a threat and warning of increased tensions in the region. Moscow has also cautioned against further expansion of the bloc towards its borders. President Vladimir Putin has cited this as one of the main reasons behind the military operation in Ukraine.
