News / EU

20,000 soldiers from nine US-led NATO countries take part in war games in Poland

Wednesday, 06 March 2024 11:27 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 06 March 2024 11:27 AM ]

A Leopard 2A4 tank of the Polish armed forces arrives after crossing the Vistula river during the NATO DRAGON-24 military exercise in Korzeniewo, northern Poland, March 4, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

NATO tests the Polish Armed Forces' response to potential crises during exercise Dragon-24 (DR-24) at the Vistula River crossing near the village of Korzeniewo in northern Poland.

Footage shows armored vehicles crossing the river on the bridge, arriving at a field near water, and performing various operations using M3 rig amphibious vehicles, tanks, boats, and other vehicles. Soldiers from different countries could be seen participating in the exercise, driving vehicles, guiding them, and supporting the overall work.

According to media reports, DR-24 involved about 20,000 soldiers and 3,500 units of equipment from NATO countries such as Poland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Through the exercise, soldiers' skill in carrying out military missions in land, air, sea, and cyberspace was assessed, and things like the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) moving across the Vistula River were involved.

DR-24, which involves 90,000 troops from NATO and Sweden, is a component of the wider STEADFAST DEFENDER-24 (STDE-24) exercise series, aimed at demonstrating defensive and deterrent capabilities.

In addition to being defensive and not aimed at any particular nation, the drills showed that the alliance is ready for any kind of future aggression. This was the biggest defensive capability shown by NATO in years.

(By AFP)

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