NATO to Conduct Largest Exercises Since Cold War to Counter Russia

Approximately 8,000 British troops will participate in military exercises in Eastern Europe, focusing on responses to hypothetical Russian aggression. According to an AP report on April 29, the exercises, scheduled for summer, are expected to be among the most comprehensive since the end of the Cold War.

The maneuvers will take place in countries ranging from Finland to North Macedonia, with British ground forces joining NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) created in 2014, led by the United Kingdom. Participating countries—including the UK, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia—regularly conduct joint exercises.

As noted by the UK Ministry of Defence, these exercises were planned long ago, but the ongoing military operations by Russia in Ukraine have provided a new impetus for their execution. “Security in Europe has never been more important. During these exercises, we will see how our forces will work alongside NATO allies and partners and the JEF to demonstrate solidarity and strength, in one of the most extensive deployments of forces since the Cold War,” stated Ben Wallace, the head of the UK Ministry of Defence, as reported by TASS.