Largest NATO drills begin in Baltic without US participation - Bild
Photo: four countries deployed the largest contingents (Getty Images)
Large-scale NATO exercises have begun on the Baltic Sea coast in Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein state. The operation, called Steadfast Dart 26, is taking place without US participation, according to Bild.
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According to Bild, units of the alliance’s Allied Reaction Force landed at the Putlos training area near the German island of Fehmarn.
"According to the scenario, the drills rehearse the rapid deployment of troops from southern Europe to the eastern flank. The key feature of the maneuvers is the absence of direct US participation," the publication said.
The landing involved 15 ships and around 2,600 troops. In total, about 10,000 soldiers, more than 1,500 pieces of equipment, and 17 ships from 13 countries are taking part.
"The largest contingents were provided by Türkiye, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, is observing the drills," Bild wrote.
The outlet added that Allied Reaction Force troops are described as NATO’s "spearhead." It said that in the event of a crisis, they are expected to deploy up to 40,000 soldiers within ten days, with such a decision taken by the North Atlantic Council.
NATO reinforcement
Ukraine’s and Germany’s defence ministries recently signed an agreement allowing Ukrainian instructors to teach at German military academies in order to integrate Ukrainian battlefield experience into training. The move reflects how the Bundeswehr is adapting to changes on the battlefield in Ukraine.
NATO’s Hedgehog 2025 exercises took place in Estonia last year, where Ukrainian troops simulated destroying a battle group that included a British brigade using drone tactics.
