The ending large-scale US Army-led multinational joint exercise DEFENDER-Europe 22 with the participation of NATO allies and partners confirmed the purposeful study of the Eastern European theater of combat operations by the North Atlantic Alliance. This viewpoint was expressed to BelTA by analyst of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research Andrei Chernobay as he commented on the statement of the President of Belarus at a meeting on military security.
"Same as in 2020, military training grounds of Poland were chosen as the main sites for operational and combat training of NATO armies in the course of the exercise. We have witnessed large-scale relocation of troops and equipment, numerous tactical exercises with live firing in Drawsko Pomorskie, Bemowo Piskie and Żagań", the analyst noted. Despite the fact that certain activities had been also held in other European countries, all forces participating in DEFENDER-Europe 22 were led by the U.S. V Corps, whose Forward Command was deployed in Poland back in November 2020.
At the same time, several more NATO military exercises are to be held in Eastern Europe in May-June: Swift Response with an active phase in Estonia, Ramstein Legacy in Poland and the Baltic States, Hedgehog in Estonia, Iron Wolf and Vigilant Falcon in Lithuania, Joint Resolve in Poland. "All of them seek to improve operational compatibility between the armed forces of the United States, other NATO countries and partners, preparedness for combat in the conditions of our region", the analyst stated.