The military alliance is practicing the activation of the fifth article, i.e. the actions of NATO member countries after an allied country has been attacked. According to the Swedish public broadcasting company SVT, the script for the military exercise was prepared based on the Russian attack.
Next week, the military alliance NATO will start the largest military exercise in decades. The Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise has been planned for years and will last until May.
The following is the most important information about the soon-to-be-started military exercise.
A total of more than 90,000 soldiers take part in the military exercise during the winter and spring. The Steadfast Defender exercise consists of several different sub-exercises, which are organized in Germany, Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries, for example.
Finland will participate in a series of military exercises throughout the spring as a new NATO country. The communication of the Defense Forces says that Finnish soldiers will not be participating in the exercise until next week.
In the scenario, Russia is the aggressor
NATO wants to emphasize strengthening European defense in the exercise. This is especially evident in the fact that troops are being moved from North America to Europe.
According to the Swedish broadcasting company SVT, in the scenarios of the exercises, Russia attacks Finland and NATO activates the fifth article on collective defense.
According to SVT, in an exercise according to this scenario, thousands of American soldiers will move from Norway to Finland via Sweden. Among other things, the Finnish defense forces have yet to comment on this detail.
Finns included in Norway
For the first time, the Finnish soldiers will take part in the Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise in a big way in Norway, where the two-week long Nordic Response 2024 exercise will be held at the beginning of March.
20,000 soldiers from the land, sea and air forces are participating in the Norwegian military exercise. The soldiers come from 14 different countries.
More than 110 fighters, helicopters or other aircraft are involved in the Nordic Response military exercise. The sea is plowed by more than 50 frigates, submarines or other vessels.
In the Norwegian exercise, soldiers from outside the Nordic countries get a feel for winter conditions. In the exercise, the defense cooperation of Norway, Finland and Sweden is welded together.
The exercise to be held in Norway is a continuation of the Joint Warrior naval exercise led by the British, which was held the previous week. In addition to Britain, the navies of Scotland and Norway participate in it.