Exercise Nordic Response 24: threats and responses to them
Norwegian soldiers before the start of the Nordic Response 24 exercise
NATO is conducting another exercise in the Nordic Response series. Training battles and other events are held at training grounds in Scandinavia with the participation of thousands of military personnel from 13 countries. During the maneuvers, they will have to show their skills and practice interaction in solving various combat training tasks. In addition, the topic of the notorious Russian aggression is being raised again, against which NATO is learning to defend itself.
Exercise plan
NATO has planned a series of international exercises called Steadfast Defender for the winter and spring of 2024. The maneuvers in this series take place at training grounds in Eastern and Central Europe and are aimed at practicing joint actions of different countries in repelling a threat from a potential enemy.
As part of this series, exercise Nordic Response 3 (“Northern Response 14”) is being held from March 24 to 2024. Such maneuvers are organized every two years and are among the largest and most important in the NATO troop training process. This year, the Northern Response is once again distinguished by its scale and significance.
Exercise Nordic Response 24 involves contingents from 12 current NATO members and 1 future one. The leading role, as always, is assigned to the US Army. The countries of the northern region are represented - Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden, which has not yet been officially accepted into NATO. Representatives of other, more distant countries are also present.
Of particular interest is the participation of the Finnish and Swedish armies. Thus, Finland is for the first time involved in the “Northern Response” as a full member of NATO, and not as a friendly non-aligned country. Sweden is apparently taking part as a neutral state for the last time, and by the next time Nordic Response will also be part of the Alliance.
In total, more than 20 thousand military personnel from all countries are involved in the exercises. About half of this contingent solves training problems directly at the training grounds, and their actions are the most noticeable. Also, hundreds of units of ground equipment of all classes are used in the maneuvers, from tanks to cars. The naval part of the exercises involves the use of fifty ships and submarines. The air force includes more than 110 combat and support aircraft and helicopters.
Nordic Response 24 takes place at several training sites in the region. Land maneuvers are carried out at sites in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas near the coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula are also used.
Events at the training grounds
The legend of the Nordic Response 24 exercise is generally simple and resembles the scenarios of previous similar events. An unnamed mock enemy country launched an attack on one of the NATO states in the region. In this regard, Article 5 of the organization’s charter comes into effect, and joint actions to protect the ally begin.
The maneuver plan provides for the transfer and deployment of ground forces and assets at training grounds, the transfer of aviation to forward-based airfields, etc. After this, training battles begin with the solution of specific tasks of various kinds. It is planned to fight the imaginary enemy on land, on water and in the air.
The main goal of the joint NATO contingent is to stop the advance of the imaginary enemy and then proceed to its own offensive actions. This involves inflicting unacceptably high damage on the enemy and displacing him from occupied territories.
To successfully implement such plans and achieve their goals, contingents from different countries must demonstrate their training, as well as demonstrate the ability to interact with each other in different conditions. According to official statements from the participating countries' defense ministries, such exercises will help integrate the Alliance's armies, make them better and help protect the entire eastern flank.
Aggressive Intentions
NATO regularly conducts various exercises in the eastern part of Europe, and the formal reason for them is always the need to protect against the notorious Russian threat. With all this, the danger from Russia is speculative, while the “peaceful response” from the Alliance is expressed in the deployment of troops and maneuvers with characteristic legends.
This logic of NATO does not go unnoticed, and official Moscow regularly draws attention to the discrepancy between rhetoric and real deeds. In addition, counter-accusations are being made against the organization - in this case, quite justified.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already commented on the NATO exercises. Thus, on the eve of their start, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova indicated that such events would lead to an additional escalation of tension in the northern region. According to her, Russia will not leave NATO’s actions unanswered, and adequate military measures will be taken to stop the foreign threat.
Separately, M. Zakharova touched upon the topic of Norway’s activities within NATO. Thus, official Oslo is increasing cooperation with Washington and the Alliance in the military sphere and is making various preparations near our borders. The result of this for Norway is a virtual renunciation of sovereignty and damage to its own security.
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko, in turn, called the Nordic Response 24 exercises demonstratively provocative. Like other maneuvers near the contact line, they create risks of military incidents. However, the Russian armed forces are closely monitoring NATO activities and taking the necessary measures.
Characteristics
Moscow's concern is quite understandable. The Northern Response 2024 exercise is taking place during a difficult period and dangerously close to our borders. At the same time, they have a number of characteristic features, as a result of which already known threats remain and new risks appear. All this requires attention and an appropriate response - both from diplomats and from the military.
In general, holding NATO exercises on land training grounds in Scandinavia or in the Barents Sea is not something new or surprising. Similar events are held regularly. For example, the Nordic Response exercise is held every two years and is not the only one of its kind. However, these circumstances do not remove reasons for concern.
American F-35A fighters ready to participate in exercises
The regular holding of “Northern Responses” and other similar maneuvers indicates NATO's interest in the region. The Alliance is carrying out the necessary construction and working out the issues of conducting combat operations in typical conditions. Considering the geography of the region, it is not difficult to guess who exactly is being considered as a potential enemy.
This time there are new risks. Thus, starting from 2021, Norway is changing the principles of cooperation with NATO and developing the organization’s infrastructure on its territory. Finland is now a member of the Alliance, and Sweden is expected to join in the near future. It is obvious that all these steps and measures are aimed at strengthening NATO in the region - and are a direct threat to Russian borders.
Attention should also be paid to the scale of the current exercises. They involve approx. 20 thousand people from 13 countries, as well as hundreds of armored vehicles, approx. 110 aircraft, dozens of Navy pennants, etc. According to current NATO regulations, such a grouping is quite sufficient to conduct a full-fledged military operation of regional significance. During the exercises, the transfer of such a contingent, its combat work, etc. are practiced.
Secret and obvious
Formally, Nordic Response 24 is a regular training event within an international military organization. However, they have obvious overtones of a military-political nature associated with the creation of a threat to Russia in the northern direction. NATO continues to draw up and implement plans for confrontation with our country, and various exercises near the borders are one of the ways to put pressure on us.
Russia knows NATO's general intentions and understands how the organization intends to solve its problems. In accordance with this, various necessary measures are being taken. The organizational and staffing structure of the armed forces is being improved, equipment is being modernized and other steps are being taken. All of them are aimed at containing the Alliance - so that battles in the region are carried out only as part of exercises.
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