News of War Staff Writer
Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. Reuters.
NATO Embarks on Monumental Steadfast Defender 24 Exercise Amid Global Tensions
In a formidable demonstration of military capability and unity, NATO has commenced its largest exercise since the end of the Cold War, named Steadfast Defender 24. This extensive operation, involving about 90,000 service members from all 31 NATO allies along with Sweden, marks a significant escalation in the alliance's readiness and cooperative defense efforts.
The exercise, which officially began with the deployment of the USS Gunston Hall from Norfolk, Virginia, is slated to run through June 2024. It encompasses a diverse array of military assets, including over 50 naval vessels such as aircraft carriers and destroyers, 80 air units including advanced fighter jets and helicopters, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles, featuring tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers.
This monumental exercise is not only a test of NATO's rapid deployment capabilities but also a demonstration of the alliance's newly formulated defense strategies. These strategies were devised in response to evolving global threats and ratified during the 2023 Vilnius Summit in Lithuania. Steadfast Defender 24 is important in testing these plans, showcasing NATO's ability to move and utilise forces efficiently from North America and other regions to reinforce Europe's defences.
Set against a backdrop of a fictitious Article 5 scenario, where an attack on one is considered an attack on all, the exercise simulates a response to a hypothetical assault by a near-peer adversary. The scenario underscores NATO's commitment to protecting its members and upholding the international order based on rules and shared values.
The geographical span of the exercise is vast, stretching across several countries including Finland, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. This distribution reflects the alliance's operational reach and its capability to conduct and sustain complex operations over extensive distances and varied terrains.
Steadfast Defender 24 comes at a critical juncture in global politics, particularly in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been cited as the deadliest European conflict in decades. While Russia is not explicitly mentioned in the NATO announcement, it is widely acknowledged as a significant and immediate threat to the security of alliance members.
The exercise is reminiscent of the Cold War-era Reforger exercises, with the last one conducted in 1988 involving 125,000 troops. However, Steadfast Defender 24 surpasses these in scale and complexity, making it a historic undertaking in NATO's history.
The exercise is not only a display of military might but also a symbol of unity and resolve among NATO members, affirming their readiness to defend each other and their collective values.
Steadfast Defender 24 is a clear and potent message to the world: NATO stands united and prepared to face any challenge to ensure the safety and security of its member nations and uphold the principles of international cooperation and peace.