NATO Conducts Winter Camp Exercises in Estonia
In an annual training exercise called “Winter Camp,” NATO forces recently conducted military drills at the Central Training Ground of the Estonian Defense Forces. The Estonian public broadcasting portal ERR reported on the event.
According to the report, soldiers from the United Kingdom and France, where winter weather conditions are milder, joined Estonian troops in practicing various maneuvers.
The exercises aimed to test the readiness of infantry and mechanized units for combat operations in winter conditions. Over a thousand soldiers participated in the drills.
The extreme weather posed a significant challenge for the British commander of the allied combat group, Lieutenant Colonel James Fern. He mentioned that starting vehicles was difficult, batteries quickly drained, and the freezing temperatures had a significant psychological impact on the soldiers.
Estonian military personnel added that these exercises differed from previous ones as they involved simulation systems that allowed soldiers to accurately determine when they came under fire.
In the past, there have been discussions in Turkey about the country’s potential withdrawal from NATO.