By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The NATO military alliance launched a massive exercise Monday to defend its expanded Nordic territory as concern mounted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would escalate into a broader world conflict.
More than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations take part in one of the largest drills since the official end of the Cold War, which now appears to re-emerge with Moscow openly raising the prospect of a nuclear confrontation.
The operation, lasting nearly two weeks, will take place in the northern regions of Norway and new and upcoming NATO members Finland and Sweden.
With over 4,000 Finnish soldiers participating, the Norway-led Nordic Response 2024 represents the NATO newcomers’ most extensive participation in a foreign exercise, according to Finland’s military.
“For the first time, Finland will participate as a NATO member nation in exercising collective defense of the alliance’s regions,” the Finnish Defense Forces said.
The Swedish Armed Forces said about 4,500 personnel from its air force, army, and navy would participate in the drill, which is being conducted in demanding Arctic winter conditions.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, joined NATO in April 2023 in a historic move following decades of military non-alignment.
SWEDEN JOINING
With its bid now ratified by all NATO members, neighboring Sweden is currently finalizing formalities to enter the military alliance as its 32nd member — most likely in March, officials said.
Hungary was the last NATO member state to ratify Sweden’s entry last month after it objected to its entry due to Swedish criticism about Hungary’s perceived rule of law shortcomings and difficulties with democracy.
Yet, after Sweden pledged the delivery of four fighter jets and other cooperation, Hungary’s governing Fidesz party agreed to join most opposition legislators in voting for Swedish membership.
For years, the biannual NATO drill, which has been conducted in the Arctic extremes of northern Norway, was called “Cold Response.”
However, “thanks to the NATO expansion with Finland and eventually Sweden, we are now expanding the exercise to a Nordic Response,” the Norwegian Armed Forces added on its website. This year, the drill is hosted equally by Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
The pan-Nordic drill is part of Steadfast Defender 24, NATO’s most extensive exercises in decades, military officials confirmed. Up to 90,000 troops are involved over several months of drills to show that the alliance can defend all of its territory up to its border with Russia.
However, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin warned NATO to stay out of Ukraine or face a potential nuclear conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a war that is believed to have killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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