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.
Latest News from Worthy News
Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.
At least 10 people, including four children, were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said Friday. In southern Ukraine, the State Emergency Service reported that one person was killed and four others were injured in a separate Russian attack on the Odesa region.
President Donald Trump signed the temporary peace deal with Iran ahead of schedule Wednesday at the Palace of Versailles in France, kicking off negotiations over a final nuclear deal.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States is being viewed by analysts not as an embrace of peace, but as a carefully crafted declaration that preserves Tehran’s revolutionary posture while allowing the regime to regroup.
The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on individuals and entities linked to Hezbollah, accusing them of using political and financial influence to obstruct Lebanon’s peace process and delay the Iran-backed group’s disarmament.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow since the war began, hitting a key oil refinery and other targets around the Russian capital, leaving at least one person dead and numerous others injured, Russian officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan this week as Moscow moved to deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and promote its vision of a “multipolar world order” aimed at countering U.S. global dominance.