ABOARD HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH (AP) As tensions with Russia simmer, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region. The war games, dubbed Steadfast Defender 21, are aimed at simulating the 30-nation military organization’s response […]
ABOARD HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH
As tensions with Russia simmer, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region.
The war games, dubbed Steadfast Defender 21, are aimed at simulating the 30-nation military alliance’s response to an attack on any one of its members. It will test NATO’s ability to deploy troops from the U.S. and keep supply lines open.
Already in recent years, the United States and its allies have deployed troops and equipment in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which all abut Russian territory, to try to reassure them that their NATO partners will ride to the rescue should they come under attack.
NATO Officials Say Ongoing War Games in Black Sea Aren t Aimed At Russia
On 5/28/21 at 9:44 AM EDT
NATO s recent war games exercises throughout the Atlantic, Europe and Black Sea regions are raising concerns with Russia, though NATO officials say the exercises aren t aimed at Russia.
The war games are being referred to as Steadfast Defender 21, and are a test of NATO s military response to an attack on any one of its 30 member states, the Associated Press reported. The main focus of the exercises now is testing NATO s ability to deploy troops from America and maintain open supply lines.
Russia s increased military presence at the border area with Ukraine has caused NATO reason for alarm, and tensions in Ukraine have heightened. In 2014, NATO launched one of its biggest defense spending initiatives following Russia s military annexing Ukraine s Crimean Peninsula. There has been an increase in NATO activity in countries neighboring Russia, including Estonia.