Soldiers from ten NATO countries cross Poland’s longest river together. The planned exercise is part of a large-scale exercise to deter Russia.
Soldiers from several NATO countries want to cross the Vistula in Poland today as part of a joint military exercise. The exercise called Dragon 24 (“Dragon”) on Poland’s longest river takes place near the town of Korzeniowo, about a hundred kilometers south of Gdansk. According to the Polish armed forces, a total of 20,000 soldiers from ten NATO countries are involved, including 15,000 from Poland. The crossing of the Vistula with the construction of a pontoon bridge is a test of the cooperation of the armed forces on land, at sea, in the air and in cyberspace.
The exercise is part of a major maneuver that NATO is holding to deter Russia on its eastern flank. The Steadfast Defender exercise, which lasts around four months, extends from Norway to countries such as Romania. The defense alliance has mobilized around 90,000 soldiers for this purpose.
Debate about NATO’s war capability
In addition to the training effect, a main goal of the large-scale maneuver is deterrence. There are increasing warnings that in a few years Russia could be ready to test NATO’s commitment to alliances. Since the move by French President Emmanuel Macron, who does not want to rule out the use of ground troops in Ukraine, the debate about the alliance’s warworthiness has gained further momentum.
Poland is one of Ukraine’s most committed supporters and has also taken in almost a million war refugees from its eastern neighbor. It also serves as a logistical hub for Western military aid. The EU and NATO member is one of the countries that feel particularly threatened by Russia because of their situation.
Many Poles fear that one day they could face a fate similar to that of the people of Ukraine, who have now been confronted with a Russian war of aggression for more than two years.
Poland is investing heavily in defense
Poland has recently invested heavily in modern weapons systems and spends around four percent of its gross domestic product on defense. Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats against the West must be taken “dead seriously.”
In an interview with the right-wing US moderator Tucker Carlson at the beginning of February, Putin said that a Russian invasion of the NATO states Poland and Latvia was “absolutely impossible” – with one exception. Asked whether he could imagine a scenario in which he would send Russian troops to Poland, Putin replied: “Only in one case: if Poland attacks Russia.” Russia has no territorial interests in Poland or Latvia, he assured. But he said the same thing before his attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
