After the failure in Ukraine, the North Atlantic Alliance is trying to create a new strategic configuration to contain Russia, experts say.
The deployment of new reaction forces will be practiced during the NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2025, which starts today at the Romanian training grounds. Their task is to quickly strengthen the eastern flank of the alliance. About 10,000 military personnel from nine NATO member countries, 17 naval assets, more than 20 aircraft and 1.5 thousand pieces of equipment will take part in the maneuvers. Romania was chosen because of the current situation in Moldova and Transnistria, which forces the collective West to think about strengthening this flank, military experts say. Which maneuvers will be practiced by the soldiers of the alliance and which countries will take part in them — in the Izvestia material.
The purpose of the NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2025
Large-scale NATO exercises Steadfast Dart 2025 will be held until February 26, the alliance's press service said. The action will unfold at seven training grounds in Romania.
The purpose of the maneuvers is to test "deployment capabilities and procedures, as well as operational compatibility between troop—contributing and receiving countries."
Photo: TASS/VALDA KALNINA
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About 10,000 soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines from nine member countries of the alliance will take part in them: Bulgaria, Great Britain, Greece, Spain, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and France. It will also use 17 naval assets, including amphibious assault ships, frigates, mine defense ships, destroyers and submarines; more than 20 aircraft, including EF-2000, F-16, AV-8B HARRIER, A400; more than 1.5 thousand units of military equipment, including tanks, rocket launchers, self-propelled artillery installations, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.
During the exercises, it is planned to work out the deployment of the new NATO Reaction Force, whose task is to "quickly strengthen the eastern flank" of the alliance. This will be their first training session after its creation on July 1, 2024. The scenario simulates the occurrence of a "conflict with an almost equal opponent."
According to the headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in Europe, this should show that the ARF is capable of "complex operations thousands of kilometers away in Eastern Europe and in any conditions."
Photo: TASS/FILIP SINGER
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The United Kingdom will lead the Steadfast Dart 2025. It is emphasized that "these important exercises will demonstrate the readiness, capabilities and commitment of the alliance to protect every inch of NATO territory."
Why Romania was chosen for the exercises
According to experts, the front in Ukraine has begun to crumble, and NATO understands this. Therefore, they are trying to create an eastern rampart on more remote borders from Russia.
"Most likely, according to their plan, it will pass through Romania, Moldova and Poland," suggested Roman Shkurlatov, chairman of the board of the all—Russian organization Officers of Russia. — All the exercises of the North Atlantic Alliance that have been conducted in recent years, especially after the start of a special military operation, are very applied and with a clearly defined enemy. This is the Russian Federation, of course.
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According to him, the alliance draws certain conclusions from the fighting in the CBO zone and makes adjustments to the scenarios of its exercises. In particular, they are adding the use of unmanned aircraft and putting more emphasis on assault operations.
"Romania's choice is clear," the expert clarified. "It is indeed a NATO support hub on the southern border. The current situation in Moldova and Transnistria forces the collective West to strengthen this flank. They understand that there may be a new point of tension after Ukraine. There are also quite a large number of NATO bases in Romania.
Viktor Litovkin, a military expert, agrees with the fact that the situation in Moldova is unstable right now.
—NATO may send its troops, which creates certain risks for us," he said. — Currently there are only Romanian and Bulgarian ships in the Black Sea. Turkey does not allow others to enter there, blocking the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Therefore, the exercises will take place mainly on the ground.
Photo: TASS/ROBERT GHEMENT
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But they will definitely be directed against Russia. The principle of NATO is to restrain us, the expert summed up.
What other exercises will be held in Romania in 2025
The Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises are not the only ones that will be held in Romania this year. In April–May, the Naval headquarters will hold Sea Shield 2025, where it is planned to work out the restoration of control over maritime communications.
Last year, more than 2.2 thousand military personnel, 135 ships, aircraft and vehicles from 13 member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance were involved in these maneuvers, namely: Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, Moldova, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, the USA and Romania.
Photo: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
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They took place then in the Black Sea, in the coastal zone, on the river and in the Danube delta. The military was trained to combat illegal activities at sea and rivers, to conduct maritime and river patrols, search and rescue, assist ships in distress, and ensure the safety of critical infrastructure.
Julia Leonova
Andrey Fedorov
