Devendra Kumar
As the war in Ukraine continues to rage on, NATO is taking significant strides to strengthen its defenses in the face of Russia’s escalating aggression. The alliance is conducting its largest exercises since the Cold War, with over 90,000 troops participating across multiple nations. The drills, code-named Steadfast Defender 24, have seen NATO forces refine their skills in varying scenarios, including a recent exercise in the fjords of northern Norway.
The French frigate Normandie was awakened from slumber and scrambled to hunt down a German submarine that had snuck into the area. The sub, acting as an enemy vessel, had already attacked an Italian ship, and the Normandie’s crew was determined to catch it off guard. Captain Thomas Vuong, commander of the Normandie, sprang into action alongside his crew, utilizing sonar and a helicopter to pinpoint the sub’s location and “attack” it.
The exercise aimed to test the Normandie’s crew’s readiness in the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle, where the cold waters and narrow fjords can make submarine detection formidable. German submariners are more familiar with Norway’s waters, but the Normandie’s crew adapted and successfully defeated the foe. The exercise, dubbed Nordic Response 2024, is part of a broader endeavor by NATO to demonstrate its capacity to defend all of its territory, up to its borders with Russia.
The influx of new members into NATO, including Sweden and Finland, has also bolstered the alliance’s deterrent capabilities. Both nations had previously maintained neutrality, but Russia’s aggression in Ukraine sparked a significant shift in public opinion, leading to their applications to join the alliance. The Nordic drill, involving over 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations, is a clear message to Russia that NATO is prepared to defend its members, if necessary. The alliance’s increased presence in Norway is particularly significant, as it sends a powerful signal to Moscow that NATO will not hesitantly defend its territory.