The US has announced that it will hold the largest U.S.-based Army exercise of forces to Europe in the last 25 years. It is slated for the spring of 2020 and will be the first of its kind since the Cold War.
The exercise, called DEFENDER-Europe 20, will increase strategic readiness and interoperability by exercising the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly move a large combat force of soldiers and equipment from the continental US to Europe, and, alongside allies and partners, quickly respond to a potential crisis.
The training exercise will be crucial in implementing NATO’s objective to build readiness within the alliance and deter potential adversaries. Additionally, it will facilitate the ability of the US, Europe, allies, and partners to work fluidly, improving the responses to different crises.
An estimated 37,000 U.S., allied, and partner nation service members are expected to participate, with roughly 20,000 Soldiers deploying from the U.S. The 19-nation exercise is scheduled to take place in Central and Eastern Europe and Georgia in April-May 2020. Personnel and equipment will begin moving in February and will re-deploy after the exercise ends through to July.
