Starting March 4, NATO is kicking off a massive military exercise named Nordic Response-2024 to test its defense strategies over its newly extended areas. This exercise will see the participation of over 20,000 troops from 13 different countries.
A Show of Strength in the North
The training will take place in the northern parts of the alliance, particularly in Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Notably, over 4,000 Finnish soldiers are joining the drills, marking the largest number of troops from a new NATO member to participate in such an exercise.
Previously known as Cold Response, these biannual Arctic exercises have been renamed Nordic Response following the inclusion of Finland and later Sweden into NATO.
The drills, running until March 15, will feature forces from Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. The exercises are not just limited to land; naval and air forces will also be heavily involved. Participants will be training with over 50 naval vessels including submarines and aircraft carriers, and more than 100 aircraft ranging from fighters to helicopters.
The main focus of these joint exercises is to ensure the defense and security of the Scandinavian region.
Background
Recently, Poland notified the public to expect a significant movement of military hardware across the country. This was in preparation for the Dragon-24 exercises, part of the larger Steadfast Defender maneuvers, which are considered the biggest NATO exercises since 1988.
