NATO troops demonstrate response capacity in military exercise in Poland
Korzeniewo (Poland), March 4 (EFE) – Twenty thousand soldiers and three thousand five hundred units of equipment from 9 NATO countries, including Spain, showcased their response capacity in a military exercise in Poland on Monday. The exercise, named Dragon-24, involved tactically crossing the Vistula River to demonstrate the Alliance’s readiness to face any attack.
The Dragon-24 exercise is part of the largest military maneuvers organized by NATO since the Cold War, under the code name ‘Steadfast Defender’. This exercise is just one of fourteen that will take place in Europe until May.
The objective of the exercise was clear: the Polish Armed Forces, with the support of allied countries, had to transport tanks and soldiers across the Vistula River efficiently and without tactical failures. The successful completion of the exercise was met with satisfaction from organizers and soldiers, many of whom experienced an exercise of this scale for the first time.
The exercise involved 921 military vehicles and 20,000 soldiers from countries such as Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, and others. Major General Randolph Staudenraus emphasized the importance of demonstrating interoperability and joint response capacity among allied forces.
Following the river crossing, the troops will embark on a 300-kilometer tactical march towards the eastern border of Poland and NATO. The scenario for the exercise was inspired by lessons learned from the Ukrainian war, aiming to test NATO’s response to potential threats, including from a hypothetical enemy, often alluded to as Russia.
NATO is preparing to safeguard its members and ensure collective defense in case of a military attack. The exercises highlight the military capacity and willingness to defend every inch of the Alliance. Civil and military cooperation was essential in the exercise design, involving various levels of government in Poland.
The ‘Steadfast Defender’ exercises, coinciding with NATO’s 75th anniversary, will include 90,000 soldiers from all NATO countries and Sweden to test their ability to resist aggression.
By Paula García-Ajofrín
© EFE Agency