NATO Launches Unprecedented Nordic Response Drill
The new NATO drills expand beyond traditional borders due to NATO's enlargement, with Finland and Sweden actively participating
A400M fuel tanker of Panavia Tornado and perform a refueling display during the NATO's biggest air exercise, Air Defender 2023 in Berlin, Germany on June 21, 2023. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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ATO has initiated a comprehensive exercise, the Nordic Response 2024, aimed at safeguarding its newly expanded Nordic territory. More than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations, including a record-breaking participation of over 4,000 Finnish soldiers, will partake in drills over nearly two weeks in the northern regions of Finland, Norway, and Sweden, starting from March 4, 2024.
The Nordic Response 2024 marks a significant moment for Finland, participating for the first time as a NATO member in an exercise focused on the collective defense of the alliance’s regions. This is emblematic of the evolving security landscape in the Baltic Sea region.
Historical Shift in Alliances
Finland, with its 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, joined NATO in April 2023 after decades of military non-alignment. The joint application for NATO membership by Finland and Sweden in 2022 reflected a profound shift in public opinion, spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Nordic Response 2024 underscores the newfound commitment to collective defense in the face of geopolitical challenges.
Led by Norway, the Nordic Response 2024 is a testament to the alliance’s adaptability. It expands beyond traditional borders due to NATO’s enlargement, with Finland and Sweden actively participating. The exercise involves land, sea, and air components, with contributions from Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
The High North holds strategic importance for NATO, and the exercise aims to enhance preparedness for large-scale joint operations in challenging weather conditions. Over 50 submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers, and various amphibious vessels will participate, along with more than 100 fighter jets, transport aircraft, maritime surveillance aircraft, and helicopters.
NATO’s commitment to regional defense cooperation
Brigadier Tron Strand from the Royal Norwegian Air Force stressed the exercise’s relevance amid the current security situation in Europe. He emphasized the need to “fight back and stop anyone who tries to challenge our borders, values, and democracy.”
Finland’s new President, Alexander Stubb, will inspect the drill alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on March 7. This marks President Stubb’s first foreign trip since being sworn in on March 1, underscoring the significance of the exercise for Finland’s new leadership.
The Nordic Response 2024 stands as a testament to NATO’s commitment to regional defense cooperation and its ability to adapt to the evolving geopolitical landscape. The exercise reinforces the alliance’s determination to ensure the security and stability of its expanded Nordic territory.
Source: The Associated Press
