The military exercise Defender Europe 20 will be one of the largest military exercises in Europe that the continent has ever experienced in the last decade. The exercise will not only test the capabilities of the U.S. Army, but will also test other NATO member states.  The Allies are well aware of the fact that in the event of war against aggressors no member state would fight alone in Europe. Therefore, the co-functioning and compliance of the NATO countries are fundamental, but also very demanding.

Picture: The military exercise Defender Europe 20 will be one of the largest military exercises in Europe that the continent has ever experienced in the last decade. | Devin J. Andrews / U.S. MARINE CORPS

Pentagon is expecting that several dozes of European states will participate in the exercise, including 37,000 soldiers from more than half of the NATO member states.  

The U.S. Army has had several years of experience in conducting tactical exercises in Europe at the level of the brigade thanks to rotation of combat teams of the armoured brigades and air combat brigades. However, only the extent of the exercise Defender Europe 20 will truly demonstrate strategic readiness and test the America’s rapid response capability across Europe in coordination with other NATO members and partners.

Picture: The extent of the exercise Defender Europe 20 will truly demonstrate strategic readiness and test America’s rapid response capability across Europe in coordination with other NATO members and partners. | army.mil

The first transfers will already start in February, the main part of the exercise will take place at the turn of April and May when 20,000 U.S. troops and thousands of pieces of military equipment will be transported over the Atlantic from the U.S.A. The transports of the soldiers will take place by air, the military equipment will be transported on ships by sea. The armaments from the U.S. forward U.S. warehouses in Belgium and Germany will also be used. 

“The main crossing corridors have been so far determined across Austria, Germany and Poland. The Czech Republic is only an alternative corridor,” said the spokeswoman of the General Staff, Magdalena Dvořáková. She also confirmed the planned participation of the Czech Army. Specifically, it should be about 70 members of the 7th Mechanized Brigade, including military equipment. Nevertheless, the number of soldiers is not final and may vary.

Picture: Members of the 7th Mechanized Brigade, including the military equipment, will take part in the exercise Defender Europe 20 | army.cz

Czech soldiers should be the part of the exercise that will be held in Poland. According to the Brigadier General Sean Bernabe of the U.S. Ground Forces Staff in Europe, Poland will be the one of the epicentres of training operations and our soldiers will play the role of supporting rotational forces here. The details of participation will be specified at the planning conference in January 2020.