NATO tests new deployment model in Europe without US
NATO is testing its ability to rapidly deploy across eastern Europe 바카라 게임 웹사이트 without direct U.S. assistance 바카라 게임 웹사이트 as Washington shifts its approach toward European defense and the war in Ukraine.
The six-week Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises across Bulgaria, Romania and Greece are taking place as Russia바카라 게임 웹사이트s invasion of Ukraine approaches the three-year mark. They involve some 10,000 troops from nine nations and represent the largest NATO operation planned this year.
The U.S. absence from the exercises comes as European nations scramble to build greater military self-sufficiency over their concerns about the Trump administration바카라 게임 웹사이트s commitment to common defense and demands for increased European military spending.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his intention to negotiate with Russia directly. And U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at his first meeting with NATO colleagues in Brussels on Wednesday that European nations should dramatically increase their defense spending and shoulder the 바카라 게임 웹사이트overwhelming share바카라 게임 웹사이트 of funding for Ukraine.
Greek and Spanish marines led Thursday바카라 게임 웹사이트s military demonstration, an amphibious assault near the central Greek city of Volos, in the first full-scale operational deployment of NATO바카라 게임 웹사이트s new Allied Reaction Force.
Established last July, the force represents NATO바카라 게임 웹사이트s latest strategic evolution, designed to deploy at scale within 10 days and combining conventional forces with cyber and space-based technologies.
바카라 게임 웹사이트This is what we바카라 게임 웹사이트ve been training for,바카라 게임 웹사이트 the ARF's commander, Italian Lt. Gen. Lorenzo D바카라 게임 웹사이트Addario, told The Associated Press after the 90-minute demonstration.
바카라 게임 웹사이트The thinking is that NATO wanted to have a force that is ready, that is flexible, that can operate across the five domains 바카라 게임 웹사이트 air, sea, land, but indeed cyber and space 바카라 게임 웹사이트 in a way that ensures it answers the (needs) of defending the alliance, but also deterring (conflict),바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said.
Western military officials 바카라 게임 웹사이트 anticipating lasting tension with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, possibly beyond the Ukraine conflict 바카라 게임 웹사이트 argue that NATO바카라 게임 웹사이트s new capability is becoming increasingly important to reinforce its eastern flank. 바카라 게임 웹사이트As we soon approach the anniversary of Russia바카라 게임 웹사이트s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we see today a revitalized and refocused NATO," said Canadian Lt. Gen. Peter Scott, the deputy commander of NATO's Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, who also attended the exercise.
He described the exercise as 바카라 게임 웹사이트a significant milestone, an accomplishment in the modernization and expansion of NATO바카라 게임 웹사이트s readiness to defend every inch of allied territory.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Scott said preparations for the exercise started two years ago and followed cooperation with planners from non-participating countries including the United States.
바카라 게임 웹사이트But in future exercises, there바카라 게임 웹사이트ll be a different makeup of countries that are going to participate. But purely for this one, that바카라 게임 웹사이트s just the way it rolls out.바카라 게임 웹사이트
The current exercise involves forces from nine NATO members, including regional rivals Greece and Turkey, deploying 17 naval vessels, more than 20 aircraft and over 1,500 military vehicles. Britain leads the operation with 2,600 military personnel and 730 vehicles, assuming command of all land forces during the drills.
The drills, which end Feb. 26, focus on rapid deployment scenarios and multi-domain operations across air, land, sea and special forces, underscoring NATO바카라 게임 웹사이트s shifting military posture along its eastern boundaries.
Participating nations are Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Earlier this week, Communist-backed groups staged small protests near the training area in central Greece, opposing the country바카라 게임 웹사이트s involvement in overseas deployments.
