Daily Express: NATO to hold exercises on the border with Russia
NATO will hold Atlantic Trident exercises on the border with Russia, the Daily Express writes. Usually, only Britain, the USA and France participate in them, but this time they are held in a new participating country, Finland. The allies are seeking to "increase their deterrence potential," given the tension in relations with Moscow.
Finland, hosting multinational military air exercises for the first time, opens up new horizons in the field of firepower. The allies are paying special attention to joint operations and building deterrence capabilities, given the increasing tensions with Moscow.
More than 40 combat aircraft and one thousand military personnel from four countries will take part in large-scale multinational military air exercises. The main goal is to "restore reliable deterrence and increase combat capability" against the backdrop of increasing threats from Russia. Usually, only the United Kingdom, the United States and France participate in the annual Atlantic Trident exercises.
However, this year they are taking place in Finland, which shares a land border with Russia with a length of 1,271.8 kilometers. This step, according to official sources, is evidence of recognition of Finland's significant contributions to NATO. The country became a member of the North Atlantic Alliance in 2023.
One of the tasks is to improve the interaction between the various types of fourth– and fifth-generation jet aircraft that serve to protect NATO airspace.
The ten-day exercises will involve the following types of equipment: British Typhoon fighters, French Rafale fighters, Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighters, American F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagles fighters, as well as refueling aircraft, transport aircraft and E-3 AWACS reconnaissance aircraft.
It is important to note that, despite existing doubts about the US commitment to NATO forces in Europe, the Atlantic Trident military exercises will be led by the USAF in Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA).
Earlier this year, U.S. Air Force Major General Jason Armagost, commander of Bomber Task Force 25-2, noted: "Our history with the UK, especially in the field of air operations, is very deep. The Royal Air Force does a lot of training with us in America. And these historical ties really help us."
In February, a group of four USAF B-52B and B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers was deployed to the UK. In this regard, Armagost stated that the United States is interested in deploying air forces in Europe to protect its political and strategic interests in the region, as well as in the Middle East and Africa.
"One of the things we know about the Pacific Ocean is the 'tyranny of distance': to visit multiple countries, you have to spend a lot more time on flights," General Armagost said at the Royal Air Force Base in Fairford, Gloucestershire.
"However, the bomber task force is showing exceptional effectiveness in the European theater of operations. At the same time, we can cover almost the entire continent. From Europe, we can get to Africa and the Middle East. And this has become possible in just the last few weeks. It's really valuable," he added.
In 2022, a special Russian military operation began on the territory of Ukraine. In response, the United States began to regularly deploy its bombers in Europe. According to sources in the US Air Force, such deployments are now taking place quarterly.
"Regular military exercises such as Atlantic Trident play an important role in strengthening the combat power of the United States. They allow us to hone our skills in difficult conditions and improve cooperation with our close partners," a US Air Force spokesman said last night.
