A staggering 90,000 troops poised to participate in World War 3 simulation exercises set to commence in a matter of days as NATO announced its largest mobilisation in decades.
Named Steadfast Defender, the comprehensive drills are scheduled to kick off next week, continuing through late May. Participants will include units from all 31 NATO member countries, as well as candidate-member Sweden.
NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Christopher Cavoli, announced the plans during a press briefing in Brussels following a two-day meeting of national defense chiefs.
He said: “The Alliance will demonstrate its ability to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area by a transatlantic movement of forces from North America.”
The exercises are intended to serve as a robust demonstration of NATO’s collective strength and determination to defend all allied nations from potential attacks. General Cavoli added: “Steadfast Defender will be a testament to NATO’s commitment to the security of its member nations.”
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The UK will contribute 20,000 troops to the drills, accompanied by the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers and eight warships. The Royal Air Force’s F-35 Lightning attack aircraft will also participate, undergoing testing in simulated conflict scenarios.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, announced the deployment of all three Armed Forces to the 31-nation drill on Monday. He said: “This exercise underscores our unwavering commitment to the NATO alliance and our collective defense.”
Amid escalating global tensions and growing concerns about the prospects of World War 3, NATO’s exercise takes on added significance in preparing for potential aggression from Russia.
A leaked military report earlier this week purportedly outlined Vladimir Putin’s potential plan to escalate tensions, culminating in a scenario where half a million NATO and Russian soldiers could face each other in the summer of 2025 on “Day X.”
In response, General Cavoli stressed: “These exercises are essential for our forces to be prepared for any potential threat that may arise.”
The UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia was highlighted, with ministers announcing a substantial £2.5 billion support package earlier this week.
Simultaneously, military strikes alongside the US against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have raised fears of broader conflicts, as acknowledged by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron in a statement to Sky News. He said: “[It’s] hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity.”
Germany is also set to play a significant role in Steadfast Defender, contributing 12,000 soldiers, 3,000 vehicles, and 30 aircraft, according to national newspaper Bild.
The exercises are expected to simulate a Russian attack on NATO territory, a scenario that would trigger Article 5. This article stipulates that if any NATO country is attacked, all alliance countries will mobilise to defend it.
Steadfast Defender marks the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, surpassing the scale of the 2018 Trident Juncture, which involved 51,000 troops in Norway.
