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In preparation for a potential battle with a “near-peer enemy,” the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is holding its biggest exercise since the end of the Cold War, Al Jazeera reported Thursday.
The exercise will test how US forces can support European partners in countries neighboring Russia and on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The news comes after the leak of a classified document last week that said Russia could expand its war against Ukraine next year by attacking NATO allies, Fox News reported.
According to the leak, which based its claims on German Defense Ministry data, European military forces are preparing for a Russian strike on Eastern Europe that may include a cyber attack.
As part of the NATO exercise, over 90,000 troops are scheduled to take part in the Steadfast Defender 2024 maneuvers, which will take place through May, according to the alliance’s top commander, Chris Cavoli.
Cavoli said the exercise would practice how NATO would carry out its regional plans, the first defense plans the alliance has produced in decades that indicate how it would respond to a Russian attack.
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Russia did not specifically mention NATO in its statement. However, its most important strategic document names Russia as the most direct danger to the security of NATO countries.
“Steadfast Defender 2024 demonstrates NATO’s ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance to strengthen the defense of Europe,” NATO said.
Poland, Norway and Romania, countries neighboring Russia, will be important locations for the exercise.
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