NATO is conducting large-scale military exercises in the Scandinavian countries

On Monday, NATO began large-scale two-week military exercises in Norway, Sweden and Finland. More than 20,000 soldiers from 12 countries — members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as Sweden, which is preparing to join NATO — take part in the “Northern Response” maneuvers.

Exercises take place on land, at sea and in the air. More than 50 submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers and landing ships, more than 100 fighters, transport planes, maritime surveillance planes and helicopters are involved in them.

The main maneuvers are unfolding in the north of Norway, as well as in the northern regions of Finland and Sweden. Their goal is to develop a joint defense of the Arctic regions.

The scientists intend to visit the new president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, the prime minister of Norway, Jonas Har Støre, and the Swedish princess Victoria.

Previously, NATO exercises were held in the north of Norway every two years and were called “Cold Response”. This year, they were significantly expanded and renamed “Northern Answer”, as they were joined by a new member of the union – Finland, and Sweden, which is completing the final preparations for joining the defense coalition.

The “Northern Answer” of 2024 is part of the largest NATO exercise in Europe in the last almost 40 years under the code name “Standing Defender”. In addition to Scandinavia, they will be held this year in Germany, Poland and the Baltic countries. About 90 thousand people, aircraft and ships of the Union and Sweden will take part in them. The American mass media previously reported that the military would develop a defense scenario in the event of a Russian invasion.

• The largest NATO exercises were held in 1988, and about 125 thousand people took part in the REFORGER maneuvers.